3. Diaphyseal Aclasis

Diaphyseal Aclasis

This PatientPlus article is written for healthcare professionals so the language may be more technical than the condition leaflets. You may find the abbreviations list helpful.

Synonym: hereditary multiple exostoses

An inherited autosomal dominant disorder in which multiple osteochondromas are seen throughout the skeleton.[1] The long bones of arms and legs are most commonly affected. It is associated with short stature and asymmetrical growth at the knees and ankles, which may lead to deformities.

  • Affects 2 per 100,000 population.[2]
  • More frequently found in Caucasians than in other races.

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Risk factors

  • Inheritance is autosomal dominant, with near-complete penetrance.
  • It is genetically heterogeneous and has been associated with mutations in at least three different genes called EXT genes.[1]
  • Usually presents during the first decade of life.[3]
  • The number of multiple osteochondromas varies from two to hundreds. The number of osteochondromas may vary significantly within and between families, with the mean number of locations being about 15-18.[4]
  • Bones may be broad and badly modelled.
  • Most of the osteochondromas are located at the periphery of the most rapidly growing ends of long bones, but they also often involve the medial borders of the scapulae, ribs and iliac crests.[5]
  • Osteochondromas tend to grow while the growth plates are open, but growth ceases with skeletal maturity.
  • Most of the osteochondromas are painless, and the main concern is often cosmetic. Pain may follow trauma to surrounding soft tissues or may be due to malignant transformation.
  • Impaired body growth (symmetrical and asymmetrical) is common and results in:[6]
    • Short stature.
    • Limb-length discrepancies.
    • Valgus deformities of the knee and ankle.
    • Asymmetry of the pectoral and pelvic girdles.
    • Bowing of the radius with ulnar deviation of the wrist.
    • Shortening of the metacarpals and finger phalanges.
    • Subluxation of the radial head.
    • Symptoms of peripheral nerve compression.
  • Dysplasia epiphysealis hemimelica (Trevor 's disease): osteochondromas arise in the epiphyses and involve the joint.
  • Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia: autosomal dominant; irregular epiphyseal ossification with intracapsular or periarticular chondromas of the knees and ankles.
  • Enchondromatosis (Ollier's disease): intra-osseous benign cartilaginous tumours.[7]
  • Fetal alcohol syndrome.
  • Turner's syndrome: associated with exostoses of tibia.
  • Tuberous sclerosis: associated with exostoses of long bones.
  • Radiation-induced osteochondroma.
  • Trauma: fractures.
  • Plain X-ray - may be the only imaging study required.
  • CT scan - useful in the assessment of osteochondromas in the pelvis, shoulder or spine.
  • Ultrasound - useful in the assessment of complications associated with osteochondromas, eg thrombosis, aneurysm and bursitis.
  • MRI scan - useful in the assessment of malignant transformation, and for evaluating compression of the spinal cord, nerve roots and peripheral nerves.[4]
  • Arteriography - for demonstrating vascular occlusion, and aneurysm and pseudoaneurysm formation.

Diaphyseal aclasis is associated with other genetic syndromes, such as Langer-Giedion syndrome, trichorhinophalangeal syndrome and DEFECT 11 syndrome.

Asymptomatic individuals may not require treatment.[5]

  • Individual osteochondromas may grow large enough to require surgery.
  • Surgical treatment for limb-length discrepancy.
  • Corrective osteotomy for valgus deformity at the knee.
  • Supramalleolar osteotomy of the tibia for severe valgus ankle deformity.
  • Surgery for deformities of the forearm.
  • Urgent surgery may be required for vascular ischaemia.
  • Most associated chondrosarcomas can be treated with wide excision.
  • Entrapment of tendons.
  • Fractures.
  • Bony deformities.
  • May interfere with normal childbirth and lead to a higher rate of Caesarean deliveries.
  • Neurological - compression of the spinal cord,[8] nerve roots and peripheral nerves.
  • Vascular injuries - arterial or venous thrombosis; aneurysms and false aneurysms may occur.
  • Bursa formation - bursae may become inflamed and painful.
  • Malignant transformation - estimated to occur in 1-5% of osteochondromas.[4]
  • Internal injuries or obstruction have been reported, eg causing dysphagia, haemothorax, and both urinary and intestinal obstruction.
  • The prognosis depends on the development of complications.
  • Spontaneous resolution of osteochondromas during childhood and puberty is rare but has been described.
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Further reading & references

  1. Exostoses, Multiple, Type I, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM)
  2. Multiple Cartilaginous Exostoses (Hereditary Exostosis), Wheeless' Online Textbook of Orthopaedics
  3. Pierz KA, Stieber JR, Kusumi K, et al; Hereditary multiple exostoses: one center's experience and review of etiology. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2002 Aug;(401):49-59.
  4. Bovee JV; Multiple osteochondromas. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2008 Feb 13;3:3.
  5. Gupta PP, Agarwal D; A middle-aged man with persisting chest opacity and multiple bony swellings. CMAJ. 2006 Nov 7;175(10):1206.
  6. Stieber JR, Dormans JP; Manifestations of hereditary multiple exostoses. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2005 Mar-Apr;13(2):110-20.
  7. Pannier S, Legeai-Mallet L; Hereditary multiple exostoses and enchondromatosis. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2008 Mar;22(1):45-54.
  8. Faik A, Mahfoud Filali S, Lazrak N, et al; Spinal cord compression due to vertebral osteochondroma: report of two cases. Joint Bone Spine. 2005 Mar;72(2):177-9.
Original Author: Dr Colin Tidy Current Version: Peer Reviewer: Dr Adrian Bonsall
Last Checked: 20/02/2012 Document ID: 2059  Version: 22 © EMIS

Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. EMIS has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. For details see our conditions.

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