Roberts Syndrome is an extremely rare disorder. The first case of Roberts Syndrome was reported in 1919. So far only 17 cases have been reported. The Medical literature recognizes quite limited information about Roberts Syndrome. Limb injuries are bad and so is impaired limb development! Here is a case of Roberts Syndrome which is a typical presentation of the data recorded till now.
A couple presented their 5 years old boy to a clinician. The couple was non-consanguineous. Their eldest child was 7 years old and normal. The second child could not complete the intrauterine life of 9 months and died at seven months. The 5 years old boy was the third conception of the couple. The youngest child was only a year old and completely normal.
Upon inquiry, the couple informed the clinician about no trauma, drugs, exposure of harmful radiations and medicines. The 5 years old boy had an incomplete cleft of the secondary palate. He was born preterm at 32 terms via the vaginal route of delivery. He weighed 1.8 kg thus, kept in neonatal ICU for 7 days. The normal weight of a newborn baby is at least 3.5 kg. His head development was normal. According to the observation of parents, he started holding objects and smiling at the age of 2 and 3 months. Parents concern towards their child began after the first few months of birth. Parents didn’t notice any development of limbs after the age of 1 year. Due to the deformities of legs and hands he could not walk or hold things properly. Surprisingly, he had development bladder and bowel control by the age of 3 years.
Physical Examination
Doctors did a physical examination to analyze the development of the boy properly. He had microcephaly and a bird-like pointed face. He had an incomplete cleft of the secondary palate. The boy weighed only 10 kg at the age of 5 years. The normal weight should have been 14-15 kg. The height of the boy was only 91 cm. The normal height should have been 100 cm. The doctors measured the circumference of his head which was 43.5 cm. The normal circumference should have been 48 cm. The ratio of lower-limb to upper-limb was 49:52 whereas it should have been 1.3:1.
X-Ray Findings
Full body X-Ray revealed bilateral shortening of ulnar bones and bilateral absence of radii. Each hand had 2 carpal bones and 1 metacarpal. Lower limbs had calcaneum only. Phalanges, metatarsals and tarsals were absent. There was a bilateral absence of patella and bilateral shortening of tibia and femur. In the pelvis, there was pubic diastasis and vertical dislocation of the hip. Moreover, there was micrognathia and the incomplete cleft of the secondary palate. Lastly, there were hypodontic teeth.
X-Ray findings and physical examination aided in diagnosing the child with Roberts Syndrome.
Surgery was performed to fix the incomplete cleft of the secondary palate. Before surgery, the speech of the child was checked. He could barely pronounce monosyllabic sounds. There was a delay in speech. In surgery, there were no significant events and complications. The surgery was 60 minutes long and a success. As far as treatment for rest of the body is concerned plastic and reconstructive surgery is an option. Even after 2 years of surgery, there is a severe delay in speech.
