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.[1]

Meromelia
SpecialtyMedical genetics

Cause

edit

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).[1]

Diagnosis

edit

Meromelia is a birth defect characterized by lacking part of at least one free limb.[2]

Epidemiology

edit

Approximately 0.00001.4% of live births result in meromelia.[3]

Etymology

edit

The word meromelia comes from the Greek meros 'part, partial' + melia 'limb'.[4]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Sadler, T. W. Langman's Medical Embryology Eleventh Ed.. LWW, p. 140.
  2. ^ Davis, Donald D.; Kane, Steven M. (2023), "Meromelia", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 32809600, retrieved 2023-09-30
  3. ^ Özdemir, Meltem; Kavak, Rasime Pelin; Eraslan, Önder (June 24, 2019). "Upper Limb Meromelia with Oligodactyly and Brachymesophalangy of the Foot: An Unusual Association". Case Reports in Radiology. 2019. Hindawi Limited: 1–5. doi:10.1155/2019/3419383. ISSN 2090-6862. PMC 6612976. PMID 31341693.
  4. ^ "Nomenclature for Congenital Skeletal Limb Deficiencies, a Revision of the Frantz and O'Rahilly Classification" (PDF). Artificial Limbs: A Review of Current Developments. 2 (1). 1966 – via Orthotics & Prosthetics Library.