Asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy is a rare and in most instances fatal osteochondrodystrophy affecting the bony thorax. Patients with this syndrome have a small, immobile thorax, are prone to respiratory difficulties and may succumb to pneumonia and its complications. The smallness of the thorax is mainly due to hypoplasia of the ribs. The long bones of the extremities are usually short and wide but are not severely affected. Five cases of this osteochondrodystrophy are reported.