Hypertrophy of one limb

Hypertrophy of one limb is a condition that many babies experience. It may be caused by congenital reasons, such as problems in the development of the fetus, or it may be caused by acquired factors such as diseases such as abnormal lymphatic circulation, arterial problems, etc. People need to pay special attention to the hypertrophy of one side of the limbs. The following is a detailed introduction to what is the hypertrophy of one side of the limbs.

This is a condition called hemihypertrophy, also known as unilateral hypertrophy, which refers to the gradual and asymmetrical enlargement of the limbs and trunk on one side of the body. It mainly occurs in infants and young children, progresses slowly, and stops developing on its own in adolescence. The exact cause of hemihypertrophy is still unclear. It can be divided into two categories: one is congenital (primary) hemihypertrophy; the other is acquired (secondary) hemihypertrophy. There may be hemangiomas or local changes in the blood circulation and lymphatic systems on the same side, such as pathological communication between arteries, caused by increased blood flow. It is recommended that children go to the hospital for detailed examination to determine the cause of the disease and receive treatment as soon as possible.

There are generally two reasons for unilateral limb hypertrophy. One is congenital, which is caused by the uneven distribution of cytoplasm on both sides when the fertilized egg divides for the first time during embryonic development. The second reason is due to postnatal diseases, such as abnormal bilateral vascular and lymphatic circulation, pathological communication of arteries, etc. Mild bilateral asymmetry without obvious pathological cycles can be gradually alleviated with development. If the asymmetry is obvious, surgical correction can be considered.

The incidence of unilateral limb hypertrophy, also known as congenital hemihypertrophy, is 1/86,000, and the vast majority are sporadic cases. It is characterized by hypertrophy of bones and soft tissues on one side of the limbs, accompanied by vascular nevi and varicose veins in that area, so it is also called vasodilatational limb hypertrophy. The exact meaning should be that after birth, one side of the body is enlarged than the other side. Sometimes it is a part such as the upper or lower limbs that is different in size from left to right. Sometimes it is the entire side of the body including the face, trunk, upper and lower limbs, and internal organs that are different in size from left to right. However, the structure of tissues and organs on each side of the body is completely normal. This is called congenital hemihypertrophy.

Patients often show enlargement and deformity of one side of the body, asymmetry of the trunk, upper and lower limbs, and external genitalia. The internal organs on the same side will also be enlarged, but the tissue and organ structure on each side of the body is normal. The circumference of the affected limb is larger than that of the healthy side, and the bones and ossification centers develop faster. Clinical symptoms include unequal length of lower limbs, limping when walking, pelvic tilt and scoliosis. Nearly 10% to 15% of patients have poor intellectual development, and 50% of patients also have syndactyly, polydactyly, polynipple disease, congenital heart disease, etc.