Ethiopian conjoined twins separated in complex US surgery

Two-year-old Ethiopian twins, Hiyab and Wuhbto, have been successfully separated following a complex 25-hour surgery at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. The twins were born with craniopagus, an extremely rare condition where twins are joined at the head. In this specific case, the sisters were connected while facing in opposite directions.

The high-risk operation, performed in February, required nearly 30 medical specialists to spend almost a year in preparation. Surgeons had to carefully separate shared blood vessels and address small areas where the twins’ brains and skull structures were fused. Dr. Joanna Kemp, the lead surgeon, noted that while the brains were mostly separate, the procedure was high-stakes and complex.

The twins were brought to the United States in 2025 to mitigate long-term health risks. Because their parents were unable to secure visas to travel from Ethiopia, the girls traveled to Missouri with a guardian. The hospital stated the medical intervention was made possible through a global network of pediatric healthcare providers and charitable organizations.