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Living with Opsismodysplasia

A rare bone condition present at birth with short limbs, small hands and feet, and distinct facial features.

Understanding Opsismodysplasia

Opsismodysplasia is a rare skeletal condition with short stature present from birth and distinct facial features.

At birth, babies have short limbs, small hands and feet, a relatively large head with a large soft spot (fontanel), and facial features such as a prominent brow, a flat nose bridge, and a small, upturned nose. Children have a higher chance of respiratory infections and breathing problems. GARD lists onset as newborn.

Signs & symptoms

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

  • Severe short stature
  • Short fingers and toes
  • Large head (macrocephaly)
  • Low muscle tone
  • Repeated respiratory infections
  • Breathing difficulty (respiratory insufficiency)

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 INPPL1 are linked to this condition. Genetic testing and counseling can help confirm a diagnosis and explain what it means for your family.

  4. Connect with expert centers

    Little People of America may keep lists of experts for this condition.

Care & treatment

Care team
Bone and joint specialists (orthopedists or orthopedic surgeons); Genetic specialists (geneticists)
Expert care
Expert lists: Little People of America
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 Little People of America
  • 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 breathing be monitored?
Which orthopedic follow-up do we need?
Would INPPL1 genetic testing help our family?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startNewborn
InheritanceAutosomal Recessive
GenesINPPL1

Changes in the INPPL1 gene cause this condition. It is inherited in an autosomal recessive way, meaning a child inherits a changed copy of the gene from each parent.

Genetic

Also known as: opsmd

Patient organizations

Source: NIH GARD · OpsismodysplasiaGARD ID 4098 · 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 Opsismodysplasia.

Explore the Opsismodysplasia blog

Explore research for Opsismodysplasia

Explore actively recruiting Opsismodysplasia studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Opsismodysplasia 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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