Leri-Weill Dyschondrosteosis (LWD) is a very rare hereditary disorder characterized by unusually shortened, bowed radius and ulna; Madelung deformity (abnormal deviation of the wrist toward the thumb side of the hand due to shortening of the radius and dislocation of the end portion of the ulna); unusually short lower legs; and mesomelic dwarfism. Sometimes, the humerus is also affected. In many cases, other abnormal features may also be associated with LWD such as abnormal bony growths projecting outward from the surface of the shin bones (exostoses of the tibia); unusually short, broad bones in the fingers and toes; and abnormalities of the hipbone (coxa valga). Noticeably, the disease affects females more severely than males.

LWD is transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait and is caused by mutations in the short stature homeobox (SHOX) gene. Normal SHOX gene product acts as a transcription factor for other genes and it is responsible for the development of the skeleton. The signs and symptoms of LWD appear by having one defective copy of the gene, however, the severity of the disease increases if two defective copies of the gene are present. SHOX gene is located on both the X and Y chromosomes in a region known as the pseudoautosomal region. Therefore, both genders have two functional copies of the gene in the normal cases.