The word “phocomelia” means seal limb. It describes an extremely rare condition in which babies are born with limbs that look like flippers. The long bones of the arms fail to develop, but fingers sometimes sprout from the shoulders. In some cases, the legs fail to develop, too. French physician Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire coined the term in 1836.

The symptoms of phocomelia syndrome are undeveloped limbs and absent pelvic bones; however, various abnormalities can occur to the limbs and bones. Usually, the upper limbs are not fully formed and sections of the "hands and arms may be missing." Other effects included: deformed eyes, hearts, alimentary, and urinary tracts, and blindness and deafness. Phocomelia can also cause an undeveloped nose with slender nostrils, disfigured ears, irregularly petite jaws, and a cleft lip with cleft palate.

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 under-developments.

Short arm bones, fused fingers, and missing thumbs will often occur. Legs and feet are also affected similarly to the arms and hands. Although operations may improve some abnormalities, many are not surgically treatable due to the lack of nerves and other related structures.

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