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A review of supernumerary and absent limbs and digits of the upper limb

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Abstract

For years people have been enamored by anomalies of the human limbs, particularly supernumerary and absent limbs and digits. Historically, there are a number of examples of such anomalies, including royal families of ancient Chaldea, tribes from Arabia, and examples from across nineteenth century Europe. The development of the upper limbs in a growing embryo is still being elucidated with the recent advent of homeobox genes, but researchers agree that upper limbs develop between stages 12–23 through a complex embryological process. Maternal thalidomide intake during limb development is known to cause limb reduction and subsequent amelia or phocomelia. Additionally, a number of clinical reports have illustrated different limb anomaly cases, with each situation unique in phenotype and developmental abnormality. Supernumerary and absent limbs and digits are not unique to humans, and a number of animal cases have also been reported. This review of the literature illustrates the historical, anatomical, and clinical aspects of supernumerary and absent limbs and digits for the upper limb.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomical Sciences, St George’s University, School of Medicine, Grenada, West Indies

    Zachary Klaassen, Monica Choi, Ruth Musselman, Deborah Eapen & Marios Loukas

  2. Section of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children’s Hospital, Birmingham, AL, USA

    R. Shane Tubbs

  3. Department of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, University of Varmia and Masuria, Olsztyn, Poland

    Marios Loukas

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  1. Zachary Klaassen
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  2. Monica Choi
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  3. Ruth Musselman
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  4. Deborah Eapen
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  6. Marios Loukas
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Correspondence to Marios Loukas.

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Klaassen, Z., Choi, M., Musselman, R. et al. A review of supernumerary and absent limbs and digits of the upper limb. Surg Radiol Anat 34, 101–106 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-011-0871-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-011-0871-1

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