Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Dysmelia
Introduction
Dysmelia (from Greek Δύσ – = “bad” plus μέλος (plural μέλεα) = “limb”) is a congenital disorder referring to the limbs.
Dysmelia can refer to
- missing (aplasia) limbs: amelia, oligodactyly, congenital amputation
- malformation of limbs: ectrodactyly, phocomelia, syndactyly, brachydactyly, clubfoot
- too many limbs: polymelia, polydactyly, polysyndactyly
Occurrence rate
Occurrence rate
Birth defects involving limbs occur in 1 per 1000.
Causes
Causes
Dysmelia can be caused by
- inheritance of abnormal genes, e.g. polydactyly, ectrodactyly or brachydactyly, symptoms of deformed limbs then often occur in combination with other symptoms (syndromes)
- external causes during pregnancy (thus not inherited), e.g. via amniotic band syndrome
- teratogenic drugs (e.g. thalidomide, which causes phocomelia) or environmental chemicals
- ionizing radiation (atomic weapons, radioiodine, radiation therapy)
- infections
- metabolic imbalance