Health
Ethiopian conjoined twins separated after 25-hour surgery in Missouri
CBS News reports that a surgical team spent nearly a year planning the successful separation of two 2-year-old girls.
The short version
- A team of nearly 30 medical specialists in St. Louis successfully separated 2-year-old conjoined twins Hiyab and Wuhbto after a 25-hour surgery.[CBS News]
- The sisters were born in Ethiopia with craniopagus, a rare condition where twins are joined at the head, occurring in fewer than 6% of conjoined twin cases.[CBS News]
- The girls traveled to Missouri in 2025 with a guardian after their parents were unable to obtain visas to accompany them.[CBS News]
Key facts
- Two-year-old twins Hiyab and Wuhbto were successfully separated during a 25-hour surgery in St. Louis after nearly a year of planning.[CBS News]
- The girls were born in Ethiopia with craniopagus, an extremely rare condition occurring in less than 6% of conjoined twin cases.[CBS News]
- The surgery was led by Dr. Joanna Kemp and involved a team of nearly 30 medical specialists.[CBS News]
- The twins traveled to Missouri in 2025 with a guardian because their parents could not obtain visas.[CBS News]
What remains uncertain
- Specific long-term recovery outcomes and timeline details for the twins' return to Ethiopia were not specified in official surgical summaries.[CBS News]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.