Phocomelia (from Greek φώκη = "seal" plus μέλος (plural μέλεα) = "limb") is an extremely rare congenital disorder involving the limbs (dysmelia). Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire coined the term in 1836.
Although various numbers of factors can cause phocomelia, the prominent roots come from the use of the drug thalidomide and from genetic inheritance. The occurrence of this malformation in an individual results in various abnormalities to the face, limbs, ears, nose, vessels and many other underdevelopments. Although operations can be done to fix the abnormality it is difficult due to the lack of nerves, bones, and other related structures.