The 17-year-old patient, who was born with four legs, underwent a successful operation to remove two additional limbs attached to his stomach at a hospital in New Delhi, India
Doctors operate on a boy who has two extra feet attached to his stomach
Doctors in India have performed a groundbreaking surgery by operating on a boy who had two extra feet attached to his stomach.
The 17-year-old, who was born with four legs, underwent surgery at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi to remove the additional limbs. The rare and complex procedure was carried out by a team of skilled doctors at the prestigious hospital in the Indian capital.
The teenager had two extra legs attached to his stomach, in addition to his normal lower limbs. The case presented a challenging surgical task, as such a procedure had never been performed at the facility before.
Worldwide, there have been only 42 reported cases of individuals with four legs, making this surgery particularly rare and noteworthy. Dr Asuri Krishna, an additional professor in the surgery department at AIIMS, shared that the young boy, hailing from Balia, Uttar Pradesh, was brought to the hospital’s outpatient department on January 28.
Upon examination, it was discovered that the teen’s stomach was covered with a cloth, concealing the two extra legs that were hindering his growth and potentially causing harm to his internal organs. Medically referred to as incomplete parasitic twins, cases like these are extremely rare.
The team of specialists who performed the surgery explained that the additional legs were impeding the teenager’s physical development, leading to his decision to discontinue his education at the eighth-grade level due to the challenges he faced, both physically and emotionally. The successful surgery not only removed the extra limbs but also provided the teenager with a new lease on life, free from the physical limitations and psychological distress he had endured for years.
A few months ago, we reported that one-year-old twins who were born joined at the head were separated using a complex procedure. Minal and Mirha underwent a technical three-month process involving two surgical stages, with virtual reality playing a pivotal role in the procedure. The youngsters from Pakistan were parted following a landmark operation in Turkey.
The young pair faced a marathon 14-hour surgery at just eight months old, which took place on July 19 at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital. The operation was led by Professor Noor ul Owase Jeelani, a renowned pediatric neurosurgeon from London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital. The challenge was immense as the twins were joined at the front of their heads. This meant they shared critical blood vessels and brain tissue, making the task extra-difficult for the extensive team of surgeons and local medics.
Adding to the groundbreaking nature of the surgery was the use of virtual reality. The medical team employed Mixed Reality technology, blending 3D imagery, medical scans, and the real world to meticulously plan and practice the procedure.
