Classification of Congenital Anomalies of the Upper Limb

Abstract

Six hundred and ninety-four patients with 993 anomalies of the upper limbs were classified according to the classification of Swanson et al. (1983) . The data from these patients were compared with previous studies, and similar discrepancies were found. One explanation for these discrepancies is a lack of uniformity in the classification of Swanson et al., which may be caused by out-dated knowledge of the pathogenesis of congenital limb anomalies. Therefore, it seems necessary to describe the anomalies instead of the diagnoses. A descriptive method is being validated in our outpatient department that records all anomalies of the upper limb.