I have a question for everyone. I was talking with another local parent who has a child with limb differences. Her pediatrician told her that she should have her child's kidneys and heart checked since they form at the same time as limbs. The doctor told her that often times someone who has limb deficiencies will also have problems with their kidneys or heart. (When testing was done, she found out that her daughter was missing a kidney and there was a problem with her daughter's heart valve.) Has anyone else found this to be true? I was thinking of talking to my pediatrician about this at my daughter's next appointment.
Heart more common
Heart problems are more common than kidney and a heart defect along with PFFD can indicate a possibility of a genetic cause. Heart defects are especially linked to arm differences. Genetics testing is of course available to anyone, but if heart problems exist a birth along with limb differences, then testing is usually suggested by a physician.
Medical
We actually heard that as well from our doctor and had our son's kidneys and heart checked out (he has pffd in his right leg). His kidneys were normal, but he has a small hole that should close on it's own between the chambers of his heart (It is not causing any problems and he will not go back to have it checked for 3 years). He was checked when he was 8 months old. It at least gave us some reassurance that nothing else was wrong with our son.
-Debi