Phocomelia

Phocomelia ( from Ancient Greek φώκη phōkē, Seal, Seal ' and μέλος melos, limb '; Synonyms Robbengliedrigkeit and Phokomelus ) refers to a malformation of the limbs of the fetus ( dysmelia ) with flossenartigem seat of the hands or feet at the shoulder or hip, or lack of long bones of the limbs.

Phokomelien can be inherited from dysmelias or caused by external influences such as other types, for example as side effects of medications and hormone preparations.

The most common example of drug side effects that cause a special type of dysmelia, the phocomelia, thalidomide, the drug of thalidomide, which was launched in the late 1950s on the market. It should serve among other things as a sleep aid for women in pregnancy, but caused in thousands of cases dysmelias, especially Phokomelien, the developing fetus. This led in 1961 to the regulatory market removal of the drug.

A dysmelia can be seen in the context of prenatal diagnosis in utero by ultrasound fine.

A special form of the Tetraphokomelie phocomelia, in which all four limbs are shortened.