Skeletal limb abnormalities

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Skeleton

The skeleton (lateral view)

Overview

Treatment

Skeletal limb abnormalities

Definition:

Skeletal limb abnormalities is a very broad descriptive term. There are a variety of possible abnormalities of the arms or legs (limbs) that can be caused by underlying defects in the skeletal structure.

Considerations:

Skeletal limb abnormalities may result from:

Metabolic diseases
Malnutrition (inadequate amounts of a vitamin, protein, calcium, or other nutrients)
Genetic diseases and chromosomal abnormalities
Problems experienced by a fetus before birth -- exposure to drugs and medications, infections, positioning, or injury
Birth trauma
Cancers

The term is most often used to describe defects associated with genetic, chromosomal, and intrauterine events and is often present at birth. Limb abnormalities can develop after birth as in the case of rickets, renal rickets, and other diseases that can cause profound changes in the skeletal structure after birth.

Common Causes:

Genetic and chromosomal
- Marfan's syndrome
- Achondroplasia
- Ellis-van Creveld syndrome
- Poland sequence
- Down's syndrome
- Prader-Willi syndrome
- Basal cell nevus syndrome
- Trisomy 13
- Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome
- Apert syndrome
Fetal exposure to drugs or medications
- Thalidomide causes the upper part of the arms or legs to be missing
- Aminopterin causes shortness of the forelimb
Intrauterine conditions
- Limb amputation from amniotic band (disruption sequence)
- Club foot

Review Date: 2/15/2005
Reviewed By: Benjamin D. Roye, M.D., M.P.H., Division of Pediatric Orthopaedics, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.