Patient 4 is a 6-year-old boy, born to non-consanguineous parents at term by vaginal delivery with birth weight of 2.2 kg (−2 to −3 SD). He cried immediately after birth. He had one healthy elder brother. He was referred for evaluation with bilateral clubfeet, bilateral elbow and knee dislocations noted at birth. He achieved head holding at 5 months, roll over at 8 months, sitting at 9 months, standing at 13 months, walking with support at 15 months, and walking without support at 2 years.\nAt 6 years, his height was 110 cm and weight 22 kg (both normal for age). He had prominent forehead, mid face hypoplasia, telecanthus, downslanting palpebral fissures, and long philtrum (Fig. ). He had long cylindrical fingers with broad fingertips (Fig. ), and mild joint laxity. He also had bilateral elbow and knee dislocation and clubfeet (Fig. ). He had flexion deformity at bilateral elbow with pterygium over cubital fossa (Fig. ). Bilateral hip and wrist joints were normal. Skin, hair, and nails were normal.\nHe had normal cervical spine (Fig. ). Bilateral double ossification of calcaneum (Fig. ), bilateral elbow (Fig. and ) and knee dislocations (Fig. ), and bilateral metatarsus adductus (Fig. ) were noted. Radiographs of hip and thoracolumbar spine were unremarkable (Fig. ). Radiographs at 4 years, 5 years and 6 years of age revealed delayed carpal ossification (Fig. ) and showed abnormal distal phalanx of thumbs and small distal phalanges (Fig. ). Echocardiography was normal. His complete blood count, serum calcium, serum phosphorous, alkaline phosphatase, thyroid profile, and complete urine analysis were unremarkable.
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.