Facts, Treatment, and Others

Why should we care about this disorder?

You should care because it involves a lot of people in your country! The effects of dwarfism are seen around the country, for everyone has an equal chance of getting the gene. There are an estimated 30,000 people in the United States and 651,000 internationally with a type of dwarfism. It occurs in one in every 15,000 to one in 40,000 live births. The life span of some one with this disorder is usually about the same. However, they usually have to get some kind of surgery in there back and are in a lot of pain. They also have walking problems and joint pain more often. 

There is no cure for someone with this disease, but scientists are working on ways to create alternate growth factors which can bypass the missing receptor to make up for all the growth. But,

• You can take medicine for human growth hormones that increase bone growth rate
• You can have surgery to correct skeletal deformities; spinal fusion- a surgery to permanently connect otherwise separate vertebrae
• Laminectomy- a surgery to open the spinal canal to relieve pressure on the compressed spinal cord from spinal stenosis
• Osteotomy- the bones of the leg are cut and allowed to heal in the correct anatomical position, for severe knock-knee or bowed legs

 

For more on Achondroplasia and other treatments, check out this professional article: here

SOME INTERESTING FACTS!!!!

1. There are over 200 distinct forms of dwarfism and skeletal dysplasias.
2. People with dwarfism are generally not taller than 4' 10" at adult height. The typical height range is 2'8" to 4'5".
3. Eighty percent of people with dwarfism have average-height parents and siblings.
4. In July 2009 the word "midget" was declared inappropriate and offensive. Preferable terms are: having dwarfism, short stature, little person, lp, and the medical terminology use of dwarf. A person's name is always the most preferred.
5. Achondroplasia, which means "without cartilage formation", is a greek word.
6. The appearance of Achondroplasia is apparent at birth.
7. Its depiction in ancient Egypt makes it one of the oldest recorded birth defects.
8. Older-than-average fathers (age 40 and older) are more likely to have children with Achondroplasia.