Mermaid Syndrome

Mermaid syndrome is also known as Sirenomelia. It is a birth defect in which the two lower limbs of the baby are fused together. It has been called Mermaid syndrome as the fused limbs resemble a mermaid’s tail. The facts relating to Mermaid syndrome are intriguing.

This congenital deformity is extremely rare. The condition can get lethal. Hence, immediate surgery is advised. The following are some of the facts of the syndrome:

It occurs in one in every 70,000 births. The total number of live births has touched 300. It can prove fatal even after a successful surgery. Mermaid syndrome seems to go hand in hand with stillbirths and identical twins. The disorder was mistaken for Caudal Regression Syndrome.

Mermaid syndrome is caused by abnormal functioning of blood vessels of the umbilical cord. Normal fetuses have two umbilical arteries and one umbilical vein. The fetus affected with sirenomelia has only one. If the fetus has two arteries, it is often blocked.

The syndrome is often accompanied with life-threatening abnormalities. The malnutrition also leads to kidney problems. The large intestine, too, is misplaced in the abdomen, and sometimes the anus is imperforate. The severity varies across individuals.

Mild Mermaid Syndrome: In this case, the fused limbs are only to the extent of the skin. The feet are fully formed and are joined at the ankles. The primary bones of the legs are well developed. A small surgery is enough to rectify the deformity.

Severe Mermaid Syndrome: It becomes difficult to imagine this form of the disease. Both limbs are joined completely. Foot structures are absent and the whole limb has only two bones. X-rays and tests can gauge the extent of internal damage.

Research is still lacking about the causes of Mermaid syndrome. Most of the theories proposed are unconfirmed.