A 7-year-old female presented with a longstanding history of bilateral hearing loss, more noticeable on the right side. She had a recent diagnosis of Larsen syndrome, and was homozygous for the CHST3 gene, for which the inheritance is autosomal recessive. She did not have a filamin B mutation.\nThere was no evidence of facial dysmorphia, although she had skeletal dysplasia and congenital right-sided hip and knee dislocations. Furthermore, she had previous left hip and knee subluxations, and hallux valgus. Prior echocardiography had revealed thickened aortic valve cusps.\nOn examination, she was noted to have narrow ear canals, with grade 1 microtia. She had bilateral middle ear effusions in keeping with glue ear. After a period of active surveillance, her glue ear resolved, but she continued to have a hearing deficit, with a right-sided mild conductive hearing loss with thresholds of ∼40 dB.\nAt this stage, a computed tomography (CT) scan of the temporal bone was undertaken. The stapes was maloriented on the oval window; however, the other ossicles appeared normal (see Figs and ). There was no middle ear effusion at the time of the CT scan.\nAfter discussions regarding the options for management, she was managed conservatively. She did not require hearing aids.
Patient 3 is a 9-year-old female, born to third degree consanguineous parents at term by cesarean section for breech presentation. Birth weight was 3.25 kg (normal). She cried immediately after birth. She was referred for evaluation in view of bilateral dislocation of hip and knee joints and bilateral clubfeet. She has undergone multiple corrective orthopedic surgeries for club feet and hip dislocation. She started walking at 1 year and spoke simple sentences at 2 years.\nAt 2 years and 2 months, her height was 90 cm, OFC 48.5 cm and weight 11 kg (all are normal for age). She had prominent forehead, depressed nasal bridge, and telecanthus (Fig. ). She had spatulate thumbs, broad fingertips (Fig. ), and joint laxity. Joint laxity was noted in both knee joints (Fig. ), bilateral club feet and broad great toes were also noted (Fig. ). Bilateral elbow and wrist joints were normal. Skin, hair, and nails were normal. At 9 years of age, there was no evidence of hearing defect or compressive myelopathy. She is presently in 3rd grade and is good at studies.\nRadiographs revealed cervical kyphosis, subluxation at C3-C4 (Fig. ), and failure of fusion of posterior elements of cervical spine with mild scoliosis (Fig. ). Accessory calcaneal ossification (Fig. ) and clubfeet with metatarsus adductus (Fig. ) were also noted. Advanced carpal ossification was seen in radiographs at 22 months (Fig. ) of age though carpal ossification was age appropriate at 4 years and 7 months (Fig. ). She had normal right hip joint but increased medial joint space on left hip joint (Fig. ). Echocardiography was normal. Her complete blood counts, serum calcium, serum phosphorous, alkaline phosphatase, thyroid profile, and complete urine analysis were unremarkable.