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Living with Acrocapitofemoral dysplasia

A rare bone growth condition with short height, short limbs, short fingers, and a narrow chest.

Understanding Acrocapitofemoral dysplasia

Acrocapitofemoral dysplasia is a rare skeletal dysplasia, a condition in which bones grow differently.

It brings short stature of varying degrees, short arms and legs, short fingers and toes (brachydactyly), and a narrow chest. GARD lists onset as the newborn and infant period.

Signs & symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:

  • Short stature
  • Short arms and legs
  • Cone-shaped ends of bones
  • Hip bone differences (coxa vara)
  • Bowed legs
  • Small nails

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include bone and joint specialists and genetic specialists.

  3. Consider genetic testing

    Changes in IHH are linked to this condition. Genetic testing and counseling can help confirm a diagnosis and explain what it means for your family.

Care & treatment

Care team
Bone and joint specialists (orthopedists or orthopedic surgeons); Genetic specialists (geneticists)
Expert care
Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with rare disease patient organizations for support
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
How should my child's growth and hips be monitored?
Does my child need a bone specialist?
What does IHH genetic testing mean for our family?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startNewborn and as an Infant
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive
GenesIHH

Changes in the IHH gene cause this condition. It is autosomal recessive, so a child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent.

Genetic

Also known as: acfd

Patient organizations

Rare-disease groups that can help

Source: NIH GARD · Acrocapitofemoral dysplasiaGARD ID 10605 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Acrocapitofemoral dysplasia.

Explore the Acrocapitofemoral dysplasia blog

Explore research for Acrocapitofemoral dysplasia

Explore actively recruiting Acrocapitofemoral dysplasia studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Acrocapitofemoral dysplasia with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.

  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
  • Share your city to look for research near you
  • Eligibility is confirmed by the study team

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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.

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