Conjoined twins are physically connected to one another at some point on their bodies. They occur once in every 50,000 to 60,000 births, according to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. About 70% of conjoined twins are female, and they are always identical – the same sex.
Types of Conjoined Twins
Conjoined twins may be joined at any of these areas: chest, abdomen, spine, pelvis, trunk or head. Scientists believe that conjoined twins develop from a single fertilized egg that fails to separate completely as it divides.
There have been several notable cases of conjoined twins, including Eng and Chang Bunker, who were born in Siam (now Thailand) in 1811 and lived to age 63. In 1955, neurosurgeon Dr. Harold Voris of Mercy Hospital in Chicago performed the first successful procedure separating conjoined twins.
Recent Cases
More recent cases include Lea and Tabea Block, who were born in Germany in 2003 and separated in 2004, and Tatiana and Anastasia Dogaru, who were born in Rome in 2004 and not separated due to the risks involved. Other cases include Jade and Erin Buckles, Regina and Renata Salinas Fierros, Abbigail and Isabelle Carlsen, and many more.
Conjoined twins are a rare and complex phenomenon, and their separation often requires highly specialized medical care. Despite the challenges, many conjoined twins have been successfully separated and gone on to live healthy and fulfilling lives.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
