Bohring-Opitz syndrome is characterised by intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), failure to thrive, facial dysmorphism (prominent metopic suture and forehead nevus flammeus, a low frontal and temporal hairline with hirsutism, puffy cheeks, upslanting palpebral fissures, exophthalmos, hypertelorism, cleft lip and palate, retrognathia and low set ears), flexion deformities of the elbows and wrists, camptodactyly, ulnar deviation of the fingers, foot anomalies and severe developmental delay. Less than 20 patients have been described so far. Although the large majority of reported cases occurred sporadically, autosomal recessive inheritance has also been reported.

A measured foot length that is more than 2 SD below the mean for a newborn of 27 - 41 weeks gestation, or foot that is less than the 3rd centile for individuals from birth to 16 years of age (objective). Alternatively, a foot that appears disproportionately short (subjective).