Meromelia Explained

Meromelia is a birth defect characterized by the lacking of a part, but not all, of one or more limbs with the presence of a hand or foot. It results in a shrunken and deformed extremity.

Cause

Such defects are mainly the results of genetic disorders, but some teratogenic (or environmental) factors have been identified, such as the use of thalidomide from 1957 to 1962 for morning sickness (NVP).

Diagnosis

Meromelia is a birth defect characterized by lacking part of at least one free limb.

Epidemiology

Approximately 0.00001.4% of live births result in meromelia.^[1]

Etymology

The word meromelia comes from the Greek 'part, partial' + 'limb'.^[2]

See also

• Amelia (birth defect)
• Phocomelia
• Polymelia
• Amniotic band syndrome

Notes and References

1. Özdemir . Meltem . Kavak . Rasime Pelin . Eraslan . Önder . Upper Limb Meromelia with Oligodactyly and Brachymesophalangy of the Foot: An Unusual Association . Case Reports in Radiology . Hindawi Limited . 2019 . June 24, 2019 . 2090-6862 . 10.1155/2019/3419383 . free . 1–5. 31341693 . 6612976 .
2. 1966 . Nomenclature for Congenital Skeletal Limb Deficiencies, a Revision of the Frantz and O'Rahilly Classification . Artificial Limbs: A Review of Current Developments . 2 . 1 . Orthotics & Prosthetics Library.