Introduction:

Congenital anomalies of the upper limb in the fetus or newborn include a wide spectrum of clinical presentations based on the penetrance and association between different anomalies. Therefore, their understanding and classification represents a real challenge for health professionals. The importance in understanding upper limb embryonic development events and the formation of its anatomical structures prevails on the fact that it helps to fully understand the classification of congenital limb malformations. Generally, these malformations represent a potential functional loss in the newborn that when timely recognized can be submitted to surgical treatment, obtaining both aesthetic as well as functional satisfactory results.

Methods:

Fetal necropsies including autopsy data with their respective photographic documentation were performed from different Health centers in Bogotá, Colombia from 2012 to May 2019, which led to a review of the literature in this regard, clarifying the diagnostic criteria for congenital abnormalities of the upper limb including only review articles and case reports that facilitate their understanding, definition and classification.

Results:

Seven upper limb malformations are presented, with the elaboration of a manual to guide health professionals regarding diagnosis, timely recognition of congenital upper limb malformations in the fetus and newborn. The manual aims to strengthen malformation recognition for a timely interdisciplinary evaluation.

Discussion:

Congenital upper limb malformations comprise a challenge for health professionals, their understanding must be approached from the phenomena of embryonic limb development to understand, identify anatomical structures and diagnose in a timely manner.

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