Conjoined twins are identical twins that are physically connected due to the failure of the fertilized eggs to separate while in the uterus of the mother. The occurrence of conjoined twins is rare.The American Pediatric Surgical Association: Conjoined Twins Conjoined twins often share one or more internal organs. Many conjoined twins do not survive childbirth. Surviving twins often undergo surgical separation, which can be a very dangerous procedure depending on which organs are shared.MayoClinic.com: Conjoined Twins
Preslee and Kylee Wells
Kaylee Hope and Preslee Faith Wells were born on October 25, 2008 in Oklahoma. The girls were born joined at the chest. The Wells twins underwent surgery that would separate them on January 19, 2009. The twins surgery involved splitting their liver.Kfsm.com (OK): Oklahoma conjoined twins separated during surgery (January 19, 2009)
Featured Video
References
Fast Facts
-
Fact:
Occurs when fertilized eggs fail to separate in the uterusMayoClinic.com: Conjoined Twins
-
Fact:
Occurs in one out of 50,000 to 100,000 live birthsThe American Pediatric Surgical Association: Conjoined Twins
-
Fact:
More common in Africa and India than in the United StatesMayoClinic.com: Conjoined Twins Risk Factors
-
Fact:
-
Fact:
Many do not survive childbirthMayoClinic.com: Conjoined Twins
-
Fact:
Conjoined twins are classified according to what points of the body are connected
-
Fact:
Common types of conjoined twins are, at the chest, near the bellybutton, base of the spine, the pelvis, head or side to sideThe American Pediatric Surgical Association: Conjoined Twins
-
Fact:
Conjoined twins can sometimes share limbs
-
Fact:
When conjoined twins are asymmetrically joined, the smaller one is the parasitic twin
-
Fact:
It is unclear what causes twins to be conjoined, some experts say it could be a genetic flaw or environmental factorMayoClinic.com: Conjoined Twins Causes
