User:Abolskar0228/ Draft of Congenital Amputation Article

Definition
Congenital amputation can also occur due to the involvement of teratogens which is the use of harmful substances during pregnancy.

Description
Congenital amputation is the least common reason for amputation but it's projected that one in 2000 babies are born each year with a mission or deformed limb. There have been certain periods in history where an increase in congenital amputations have occurred and have been documented. One example includes the thalidomide tragedy that occurred in the 1960s where pregnant expectant mothers where given a tranquilizer that contained the harmful drug. This produced an increased number of newborn birth defects where they were born without limbs. Another example includes the Chernobyl catastrophe in Russia where the radiation exposure caused many children to be born with abnormal or missing limbs.

Causes
The exact cause of congenital amputation is unknown. However, most cases show that the first three months in a pregnancy are when most birth defects occur because that is when the organs of the fetus are beginning to form. A baby with congenital amputation can be missing a portion of a limb or the entire limb. Which results in the complete absence of a limb beyond a certain point where only a stump is left is known as transverse deficiency or amelia. When a specific part is missing this is referred to as longitudinal deficiency. Finally, phocomelia occurs when only a mid-portion of a limb is missing, so for example when the hands or feet are directly attached to the trunk of the body.

Diagnosis & Treatment
For most cases the diagnosis for congenital amputation is not diagnosed until the infant is born. One way that is helpful in determining this condition in an infant is an ultrasound examination of a fetus when still in the mother's stomach as it can reveal the absence of a limb. However, since ultrasounds are routine they may not pick up all the signs of some of the more subtle birth defects. The most popular method of treatment for congenital amputation is having the child be fit for prosthesis so that the child is fit early with a functional prosthesis which can lead to normal development, so the muscles don't atrophy. If there is congenital amputation of the fingers, plastic surgery can be performed by using the big toe or second toes in place of the missing fingers of the hand.

Prevention
Preventing birth defects according to studies suggests prenatal care for expectant mothers during their pregnancies can be a great way to avoid having their child be born with congenital amputation. Knowing your environmental and genetic risks can be an important tool also. Heavy exposure to chemicals, smoking, drinking alcohol, eating a poor diet, or engaging in any other teratogenic activities while pregnant can increase ones risk of having their child be born with a congenital amputation. Folic acid is a multivitamin that has been found to have an effect that reduces birth defects.