The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 72, Issue 6 889-896, Copyright © 1990 by Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc
Orthopaedic aspects of fragile-X syndrome
JR Davids, RJ Hagerman and RE Eilert
Child Development Unit, Children's Hospital, Denver, Colorado 80218.
Fragile-X syndrome is one of the most common inherited forms of mental
retardation. An associated connective-tissue disorder involving elastin
accounts for the most frequent musculoskeletal manifestations, which
include severe flexible flat feet, excessive laxity of the joints, and
scoliosis. At our institution, seventy-five (50 per cent) of the 150 male
patients who had fragile-X syndrome had flat feet, eighty-five (57 per
cent) had excessive laxity of the joints, and ten had scoliosis.
Twenty-nine of the patients who had flat feet had been evaluated or
treated, or both, by an orthopaedic surgeon before the diagnosis of
fragile-X syndrome had been made. Only one of these patients had been
referred for developmental and genetic evaluation, which suggests that the
orthopaedic community is not familiar with this syndrome. The orthopaedist
should consider the diagnosis of fragile-X syndrome in the evaluation of a
mentally retarded boy or man who has a family history of mental
retardation. The presence of flat feet and excessive laxity of the joints,
associated with the characteristic facies, macro-orchidism, and behavior,
justifies a referral for developmental and genetic evaluation. Early
diagnosis is important for several reasons, including genetic counseling
for the family, more efficacious medical treatment, and specialized
education.