Conjoined twins separated after 40 hours of operations

Conjoined twin sisters have been separated by a team of British surgeons after a series of “groundbreaking” operations.

Mercy and Goodness were born in Ekiti, south-western Nigeria, with fused skulls, shared brain tissue and blood vessels – which is a rare condition called craniopagus twinning.

At six months, they were referred to British charity Gemini Untwined, the only organisation in the world that focuses on research and operations for craniopagus twins.

Conjoined twins are very rare – only one in every 2.5 million births. / Credit: Gemini Untwined

After extensive planning, the twins traveled to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates last year for treatment at the SEHA Sheikh Khalifa Medical City.

A team of more than 60 surgeons from four countries, including the UK, performed a series of procedures over four months, with the final surgery lasting a total of 12 hours.

Mercy and Goodness have since made a full recovery and will be returning home to Nigeria.

Mercy and Goodness have made a full recovery since their separation. / Credit: Gemini Untwined

The surgery is one of the most complex of its kind, and was only the ninth successful separation of craniopagus twins undertaken by Gemini Untwined.

The charity said the operations included several new and refined techniques, including an ‘Open Book’ approach, which uses gravity to support the brain during surgery rather than traditional retractors, helping to reduce pressure and potential trauma.

In the months leading up to the final procedure, the team used a combination of 3D imaging, virtual reality simulation, augmented overlays, and ultrasound-guided expansion to map the twins’ anatomy in detail.