Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Carpenter Syndromeis not the name you expected.

Synonyms

• Acrocephalopolysyndactyly Type II
• ACPS II

Disorder Subdivisions

• None

General Discussion

Carpenter syndrome belongs to a group of rare genetic disorders known as "acrocephalopolysyndactyly" (ACPS) disorders. All forms of ACPS are characterized by premature closure of the fibrous joints (cranial sutures) between certain bones of the skull (craniosynostosis), causing the top of the head to appear pointed (acrocephaly); webbing or fusion (syndactyly) of certain fingers or toes (digits); and/or more than the normal number of digits (polydactyly). Carpenter syndrome is also known as ACPS type II.

Carpenter syndrome is typically evident at or shortly after birth. Due to craniosynostosis, the top of the head may appear unusually conical (acrocephaly) or the head may seem short and broad (brachycephaly). In addition, the cranial sutures often fuse unevenly, causing the head and face to appear dissimilar from one side to the other (craniofacial asymmetry). Additional malformations of the skull and facial (craniofacial) region may include downslanting eyelid folds (palpebral fissures); a flat nasal bridge; malformed (dysplastic), low-set ears; and a small, underdeveloped (hypoplastic) upper and/or lower jaw (maxilla and/or mandible).

Individuals with Carpenter syndrome may also have unusually short fingers and toes (brachydactyly); partial fusion of the soft tissues (cutaneous syndactyly) between certain digits; and the presence of extra (supernumerary) toes or, less commonly, additional fingers (polydactyly). In some instances, additional physical abnormalities are present, such as short stature, structural heart malformations (congenital heart defects), mild to moderate obesity, weakening in the abdominal wall near the navel through which the intestine may protrude (umbilical hernia), or failure of the testes to descend into the scrotum (cryptorchidism) in affected males. In addition, many individuals with the disorder are affected by mild to moderate mental retardation. However, intelligence is normal in some instances. Carpenter syndrome is usually inherited as an autosomal recessive trait.
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Resources

March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains
NY
10605
Tel: (914)428-7100
Fax: (914)997-4763
800: (888)663-4637
Askus@marchofdimes.com
http://www.marchofdimes.com

FACES: The National Craniofacial Association
P.O. Box 11082
Chattanooga
TN
37401
Tel: (423)266-1632
Fax: (423)267-3124
800: (800)332-2373
faces@faces-cranio.org
http://www.faces-cranio.org

The Arc (a national organization on mental retardation)
1010 Wayne Ave
Suite 650
Silver Spring
MD
20910
Tel: (301)565-3842
Fax: (301)565-3843
800: (800)433-5255
TDD: (817)277-0553
info@thearc.org
http://www.thearc.org/

Forward Face, Inc.
317 East 34th Street
Room 901
New York
NY
10016
Tel: (212)684-5860
Fax: (212)684-5864
800: (800)393-3223
info@forwardface.org
http://www.forwardface.org

Let's Face It (USA)
P.O. Box 29972
Bellingham
WA
98228-1972
USA
Tel: (360)676-7325
faceit@umich.edu
http://www.dent.umich.edu/faceit

AmeriFace
PO Box 751112
Las Vegas
NV
89136
USA
Tel: (702)769-9264
Fax: (702)341-5351
800: (888)486-1209
info@ameriface.org
http://www.ameriface.org

Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf, Inc.
3417 Volta Place, NW
Washington
D.C.
20007-2778
United States
Tel: (202)337-5220
Fax: (202)337-8314
800: (866)337-5220
info@agbell.org
http://www.agbell.org

American Heart Association
National Center
7272 Greenville Avenue
Dallas
TX
75231-4596
Tel: (214)373-6300
Fax: (214)373-0268
800: (800)242-8721
inquire@heart.org
http://www.americanheart.org

Congenital Heart Anomalies, Support, Education, & Resources
2112 North Wilkins Road
Swanton
OH
43558
Tel: (419)825-5575
Fax: (419)825-2880
chaser@compuserve.com
http://www.csun.edu/~hcmth011/chaser/chaser-news.html

National Craniofacial Foundation
3100 Carlisle Street
Suite 215
Dallas
TX
75204
800: (800)535-3643Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery (New York University Medical Center New York University School of Medicine)
New York University Medical Center
560 First Avenue
New York
NY
10016
USA
Tel: (212)263-5834
Fax: (212)263-5400
jennifer.zahn@med.nyu.edu
http://www.med.nyu.edu/irps

NIH/Nat'l Institute on Deafness & Other Communication Disorders Information Clearinghouse
1 Communication Ave
Bethesda
MD
20892-3456
Tel: (301)402-0900
Fax: (301)907-8830
800: (800)241-1044
TDD: (800)241-1105
nidcdinfo@nidcd.nih.gov
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov

MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay
WI
54301-1243
USA
Tel: (920)336-5333
Fax: (920)339-0995
800: (877)336-5333
mums@netnet.net
http://www.netnet.net/mums/