Mesomelia/Rhizomelia

Abstract

The term rhizomelic pertains to the proximal portions of the limbs including shoulder and arm in the upper extremity and hip and thigh in the lower extremity. Rhizomelia is defined as either a disproportion of the length of the proximal limb usually shortening or deformity affecting the shoulder and arm or hip and thigh. The term mesomelic pertains to the middle portions of the limbs including forearm and leg. Mesomelia is defined as a condition in which the forearms and lower legs are abnormally short or deformed. Bowing of the limbs may be present in rhizomelic and mesomelic dysplasia. Rhizomelic and mesomelic dysplasia are encountered in cases of dwarfism including many osteochondrodysplasias. Both rhizomelic and mesomelic dysplasia and short stature may be encountered in the same patient [1]. These conditions are often grouped under rhizomelic dwarfism such as diastrophic dysplasia and achondroplasia and mesomelic dwarfism such as Leri-Weill and Robinow syndromes.