meromelia meromelia meromelia is a birth defect characterized by the lacking of a part, but not all, of one or more limbs with the presence of a hand or foot. it results in a shrunken and deformed extremity. cause such defects are mainly the results of genetic disorders, but some teratogenic (or environmental) factors have been identified, such as the use of thalidomide from 1957 to 1962 for morning sickness (nvp). diagnosis meromelia a birth defect characterization by the lacking of a part, but all, of one or more limbs with the presence of a hand or foot. treatment artificial limbs, surgery, rehabilitation, lasik etymology gk, meros ("part") + melia ("limb")