What is fetal Micromelia?

Fetal micromelia is a relatively common entity which can be subclassified into mild and severe types. The lethal nature of the condition requires assessment of the thoracic biometry which may further narrow down the diagnostic possibilities.

What causes Micromelia?

Micromelia occurs when the shortening affects both the proximal and distal bones equally. It is often of practical importance to divide this group further into severe or mild shortening. Rhizomelia is where the limb shortening affects the proximal bones more than the distal bones.

How early can skeletal dysplasia be diagnosed?

Severe limb reductions, as in thanatophoric dwarfism and achondrogenesis can be detected from 16 weeks’ gestation, whereas in achondroplasia limb shortening becomes obvious >22 weeks.

Is the trunk normal for a micromelia fetus?

The trunk is normal, aside front considerable lordosis, which will make its appearance with the onset of static func tions. In spite of eonsiderable adiposity, the narrow pelvis and the short extremities will give the trunk an abnormally elongated appearance. The typical point in micromelia is the shortness of the extremities.

Can a person with micromelia reach old age?

On the other hand, micromelia patients may reach an old age with physical and mental competency. The diagnosis can be easily made from the above descrip tion. There is no justification for the designations of fetal cretinism, fetal rachitis, fetal myxcedema.

What is the clinical tertn of micromelia?

MICROMELIA The clinical tertn of micromelia comprises in its etiology totally different clinical conditions, which have in common abnormal shortness of the extremities as compared to the trunk.

Is there such a thing as fetal myxce Dema?

Cases of micromelia have often been described as “fetal myxce dema,” “fetal cretinism,” or even “fetal rachitis,” owing to the peculiar affections of the bones.