Notation of Molnar and Taft for Congenital Meromelias

Molnar and Taft used a notation to describe partial absence of a limb, or meromelia.

Parameters:

(1) terminal vs intercalary deficiency

(2) transverse vs longitudinal

(3) pre-axial vs post-axial for longitudinal defects

(4) location as proximal, middle or distal

Parameter	Finding	Notation
deficiency	terminal	I
	intercalary	II
extent	transverse	A
	longitudinal (pre or post axial)	B
axis	transverse	<nothing>
	pre-axial	1
	post-axial	2
location	proximal (femur or humerus)	a
	middle (forearm or lower leg)	b
	distal (hand or foot)	c

where:

• Pre-axial for upper extremity includes the radius, thumb and second finger.

• Post-axial for the upper extremity includes the ulna, fourth and fifth fingers.

• Pre-axial for the lower extremity includes the tibia and dorsal surface of the foot.

• Post-axial for the lower extremity includes the fibula, heel and plantar surface of the foot.

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