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 caused mainly by genetic factors, but some teratogenic (or environmental) factors have been identified, such as the use of thalidomide

Thalidomide

Thalidomide was introduced as a sedative drug in the late 1950s that was typically used to cure morning sickness. In 1961, it was withdrawn due to teratogenicity and neuropathy. There is now a growing clinical interest in thalidomide, and it is introduced as an immunomodulatory agent used...

 in the 1957-62 for morning-sickness (nausea).

See also

• Amelia (birth defect)
  Amelia (birth defect)
  Amelia is the birth defect of lacking one or more limbs. It can also result in a shrunken or deformed limb. For example, a child might be born without an elbow or forearm. The term may be modified to indicate the number of legs or arms missing at birth, such as tetra-amelia for the absence of all...
  
  
• Phocomelia
  Phocomelia
  Phocomelia is an extremely rare congenital disorder involving the limbs . Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire coined the term in 1836....
  
  
• Polymelia
  Polymelia
  Polymelia is a birth defect involving limbs , in which the affected individual has more than the usual number of limbs. In humans and most land-dwelling animals, this means having five or more limbs...
  
  
• Thalidomide
  Thalidomide
  Thalidomide was introduced as a sedative drug in the late 1950s that was typically used to cure morning sickness. In 1961, it was withdrawn due to teratogenicity and neuropathy. There is now a growing clinical interest in thalidomide, and it is introduced as an immunomodulatory agent used...
  
  
• Amniotic Band Syndrome
  Amniotic band syndrome
  Amniotic band syndrome is a congenital disorder caused by entrapment of fetal parts in fibrous amniotic bands while in utero.-Epidemiology:Amniotic banding affects approximately 1 in 1,200 live births...