Functional accessory limb arising from the buttock: a case report
Mohammad Mahdi Ebrahiminasab1, Taghi Baghdadi1, Pouya Tabatabaei Irani1
1Joint Reconstruction Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
BMC Pediatrics
|May 6, 2025
Summary
This case study details a rare congenital condition called polymelia (accessory limb) in an infant. Surgical removal and hip dislocation treatment yielded excellent outcomes, offering insights into managing this anomaly.
Area of Science:
- Medical Case Studies
- Congenital Abnormalities
- Pediatric Surgery
Background:
- Polymelia, or accessory limb, is a rare congenital abnormality with an unknown etiology.
- Accessory limbs can present unique diagnostic and management challenges in infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a rare case of polymelia in an infant.
- To review diagnostic and therapeutic considerations for accessory limbs.
- To highlight management challenges associated with polymelia.
Main Methods:
- Case presentation of a 2-month-old male infant with an accessory limb.
- Diagnostic workup including assessment for spinal dysraphism and hip dislocation.
- Surgical removal of the accessory limb and treatment of associated hip dislocation.
Main Results:
- The accessory limb was sensate with mobile joints.
- No associated spinal dysraphism was detected.
- A left dislocated hip was identified and successfully treated with open reduction.
Conclusions:
- This study presents a rare case of accessory limb in an infant.
- Effective surgical management is crucial for both the accessory limb and associated anomalies like hip dislocation.
- Early diagnosis and intervention lead to favorable outcomes in polymelia cases.
