May also be called: Chondrodysplasia, Chondrodystrophia Chondrodystrophy (kon-dro-DIS-trah-fee) is a general term that refers to a disorder that interferes with the body's normal development of cartilage. This leads to abnormal skeletal growth and formation. More to Know During a baby's development in the womb, much of the skeleton is made up of a tough, flexible tissue called cartilage. Normally, cartilage is converted to bone by a process called ossification. With chondrodystrophy, the body has a problem growing cartilage and converting it to bone, especially in the long bones of the arms and legs. Many people with chondrodystrophy have normal-sized trunks, but short limbs and short stature. Chondrodystrophy also can cause knock-knees, bow-leggedness, or excessive curving of the lower back (lordosis or kyphosis). Chondrodystophies happen because of a mutation in a gene that develops and maintains bone and brain tissue. These mutation occurs before a baby is born. One type of chondrodystrophy, achondroplasia, is the most common cause of dwarfism. Chondrodystrophy can be inherited from a parent or can be caused by a random gene mutation. There is no specific treatment for chondrodystrophy, but treatment may be necessary if it leads to complications like hydrocephalus, obesity, or spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal canal). Keep in Mind There is no cure for chondrodystrophy, but the symptoms are typically only physical and do not affect intellectual ability or life span. All A to Z dictionary entries are regularly reviewed by KidsHealth medical experts. Back to Articles Related Articles A to Z: Kyphosis Learn more about kyphosis, an abnormal rounding of the spine. Read More A to Z: Kyphosis, Congenital Learn more about congenital kyphosis, an abnormal rounding of the spine that develops before birth. Read More A to Z: Kyphosis, Postural Learn more about postural kyphosis, an abnormal rounding of the spine caused by irregular development of bones and muscles, sometimes due to slouching or poor posture. Read More A to Z: Kyphosis, Scheuermann's Learn more about Scheuermann's kyphosis, an abnormal rounding of the spine that can run in families and is usually seen in teens. Read More A to Z: Pituitary Dwarfism Pituitary dwarfism is a condition in which the pituitary gland does not make enough growth hormone, resulting in a child's slow growth pattern and unusually small stature. Read More A to Z: Spinal Stenosis Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces in the spine, or backbone, where the spinal cord is located. Pressure placed on the spinal cord causes pain and disruption to some body functions. Read More A to Z: Diastrophic Dysplasia Diastrophic dysplasia is a rare genetic disorder that interferes with bone development and causes abnormal bone growth and dwarfism (short stature). Read More A to Z: Deformity, Congenital Learn about types of birth defects and conditions that affect the size and shape of body parts. Read More Kyphosis Your spine, or backbone, normally curves forward gently as it runs up your back. Sometimes, though, someone's back can be rounded too far forward, which is a condition known as kyphosis. Read More Growth Problems In most cases, teens who are small are just physically maturing a bit more slowly than their friends. Occasionally, though, there's a medical reason why some kids and teens stop growing. Find out about growth problems and how doctors can help. Read More A to Z: Achondroplasia Achondroplasia is a genetic disorder that interferes with bone growth and causes dwarfism (short stature). Read More Dwarfism Dwarfism is characterized by short stature. Many of the possible complications of dwarfism are treatable, and people of short stature lead healthy, active lives. Read More Dwarfism A dwarf is a short-statured person whose adult height is 4 feet 10 inches or under. Find out what happens when a person has dwarfism and why some people are born with it. Read More Birth Defects Some birth defects are minor and cause no problems; others cause major disabilities. Learn about the different types of birth defects, and how to help prevent them. Read More When Your Baby Has a Birth Defect If your child has a birth defect, you don't have to go it alone - many people and resources are available to help you. Read More Kyphosis Everyone's spine is slightly rounded forward at a gentle angle. If this angle is too pronounced, more than 50 degrees or so, it's called kyphosis, also known as roundback or hunchback. Read More Prenatal Genetic Counseling Genetic counselors work with people who are either planning to have a baby or are pregnant to determine whether they carry the genes for certain inherited disorders. Find out more. Read More Genetic Testing Advances in genetic testing help doctors diagnose and treat certain illnesses. The type of test done depends on which condition a doctor checks for. Read More What Is a Gene? Why does one kid have green eyes while another kid's eyes are brown? It's all in the genes! Find out how genes work, what happens when there are problems with genes, and more. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.