SUPERNUMERARY LIMBS - A CASE-REPORT OF A RARE CONGENITAL ANOMALY

We report a case of an 18-month-old female who presented with three su pernumerary upper limbs of varying lengths on the right side. Each lim b had a proximal, middle, and distal segment, and an intercalated elbo w and wrist joint. A single digit was present in the superior limb, th ree digits in the middle limb, and two digits in the caudal-most limb. Right plagiocephaly, congenital torticollis, scoliosis involving the upper and mid thoracic region, and a hypoplastic right pectoralis majo r were the other abnormal features noted. Radiography showed two scapu lae, humerus, a single forearm bone in each limb, and rudimentary meta carpals and phalanges. Limb duplication may rarely be encountered in p arasitic conjoined twins. The role of mutagens, drugs, cellular contri butions, and morphogens in the growth and differentiation of limbs has been studied in animals. It is rather difficult to deduce the time of action of the factors responsible for such a malformation.