title: Sirenomelia in a Nigerian triplet: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sirenomelia, also known as mermaid syndrome, is a very rare fatal congenital abnormality in which the legs are fused together, giving them the appearance of a mermaid's tail. It is commonly associated with abnormal kidney development, genital and rectal abnormalities. A handful of cases have been reported in other parts of the world, however, no cases have previously been reported in a Nigerian neonate. To the best of our knowledge, we believe that this is the first case reported from West Africa and in a triplet.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 16-hour-old baby boy, the second of a set of Nigerian triplets, presented to our facility with fusion of the entire lower limbs, imperforate anus, indiscernible genital structures, single umbilical artery and a neural tube defect. His parents were from the Hausa ethnic group and not related.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sirenomelia has not been previously described in a set of triplets, and it is hoped that this report from West Africa will give information about the non-racial predilection of this condition.
authors: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. rossaire2003@yahoo.com.
authors: Rosemary O
authors: RO
authors: Ugwu
authors: Augusta U
authors: AU
authors: Eneh
authors: Woroma
authors: W
authors: Wonodi