Unveiling a Rare Case of Neonatal Terminal Limb Anomalies with Bilateral Toenail Agenesis and Clubfoot: A Potential Variant of Adams-Oliver Syndrome
Keywords:
Adams-Oliver Syndrome, Limb anomalies, Congenital nail agenesis, Clubfoot, Terminal transverse limb defects, Congenital talus absenceAbstract
Congenital anomalies involving terminal limb defects and nail hypoplasia are uncommon and may signify an underlying syndromic etiology. We report the case of a term female neonate born with absent great toenails bilaterally, congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV), and radiologically absent talus on one side, along with distal phalanx deficiency. Antenatal ultrasound had indicated fetal growth restriction (FGR), two-vessel umbilical cord, and mild irregular bubble. Postnatal clinical examination, radiological evaluation, and pending genetic studies suggest a provisional diagnosis of Adams-Oliver Syndrome (AOS), a rare genetic disorder known for scalp and limb anomalies. The absence of scalp lesions, however, highlights a broader phenotypic variation. This case underlines the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, early imaging, genetic counseling, and the need to consider AOS even in the absence of classical findings.
Downloads
Metrics
References
Sukalo A, Fiedler B, Eberlein B, et al. Mutations in EOGT define a novel subtype of Adams-Oliver syndrome. Am J Hum Genet. 2015;96(5):955–961.
Snape KM, Ruddy D, Zenker M, et al. Mutations in the NOTCH1 pathway cause Adams-Oliver syndrome. Nat Genet. 2011;43(9):902–906.
Hassed SJ, Wiley GB. Limb-Mammary Syndrome. In: Adam MP, Everman DB, Mirzaa GM, et al., editors. GeneReviews® [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 2001–2023.
Stittrich AB, Lehman A, Bodian DL, et al. Mutations in RBPJ cause Adams-Oliver syndrome. Nat Genet. 2014;46(8):885–891.
Martínez-Frías ML. Congenital limb defects: prenatal origin, types, and classification. Am J Med Genet A. 2017;173(3):643–659.
Kapoor S, Aggarwal R, Srivastava S. Unilateral congenital absence of the talus in a neonate. J Pediatr Orthop B. 2020;29(4):362–365.
Whelan MA, McCarthy JJ. Clubfoot: diagnosis and treatment. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2021;33(1):60–67.
Meester JAN, Southgate L, Stittrich AB, et al. Elucidating the genetic architecture of Adams–Oliver syndrome in a large European cohort. Hum Mutat. 2018;39(9):1246–1261.
Southgate L, Johnson DS, Ostergaard JR, et al. Haploinsufficiency of the NOTCH1 receptor as a cause of Adams–Oliver syndrome with variable cardiac anomalies. Circ Cardiovasc Genet. 2015;8(4):582–590.
Cohen I, Lazar L, Mazor-Aronovitch K, et al. Autosomal recessive Adams-Oliver syndrome caused by homozygous mutation in EOGT. Eur J Hum Genet. 2014;22(3):374–378.
Snape KM, Hanks S, Ruark E, et al. The spectra of clinical phenotypes in aplasia cutis congenita and terminal transverse limb defects. Am J Med Genet A. 2009;149A(8):1860–1881.
Piazza AJ, Meyer C, Lodish MB, et al. A case of Adams-Oliver syndrome with associated brain and pulmonary involvement. Am J Med Genet A. 2004;130(2):172–175.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
Terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.