What is "phocomelia"

n. A congenital disorder of the limbs, the affected person being born with abnormally short or missing bones and flipper-like hands or feet.

n. an abnormality of development in which the upper part of an arm or leg is missing so the hands or feet are attached to the body like stumps; rare condition that results from taking thalidomide during pregnancy [syn: seal limbs]

Phocomelia (from Ancient Greek φώκη phōkē, " seal (animal)" + -o- interfix + μέλος melos, "limb" + English suffix -ia) is an extremely rare congenital disorder involving malformation of the limbs ( dysmelia). Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire coined the term in 1836.

Although many factors can cause phocomelia, the prominent roots come from the use of the drug thalidomide and from genetic inheritance. Occurrence in an individual results in various abnormalities to the face, limbs, ears, nose, vessels and many other underdevelopments. Although operations may improve some abnormalities, many are not surgically treatable due to the lack of nerves and other related structures.