Thanatophoric dysplasia is a severe inherited skeletal disorder characterized by extremely short limbs and folds of extra skin on the arms and legs. Genetic changes are related to the following types of thanatophoric dysplasia. thanatophoric dysplasia, type 1 thanatophoric dysplasia, type 2 Infants with this condition have disproportionately short arms and legs with extra folds of skin. Other signs of the disorder include a narrow chest, small ribs, underdeveloped lungs, and an enlarged head with a large forehead and prominent, wide-spaced eyes. Infants with type 1 thanatophoric dysplasia also have curved thigh bones and flattened bones of the spine (platyspondyly). An unusual head shape called a cloverleaf skull is seen with type 2 thanatophoric dysplasia. The term thanatophoric is Greek for "death bearing." Infants with this condition are usually stillborn or die shortly after birth from respiratory failure; however, some children have survived into childhood with a lot of medical help. These children are severely mentally retarded due to a variety of brain abnormalities and have difficulty breathing on their own.