Ethiopian twins successfully separated after rare skull-joining surgery

Ethiopian twin sisters Hiyab and Wuhbto, born with craniopagus—a rare condition where twins are joined at the head—have been successfully separated following a complex surgery in St. Louis, Missouri.

The procedure, performed at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, lasted approximately 25 hours and involved more than 30 surgical staff members. The medical team spent over 300 hours in planning and strategy meetings prior to the operation. The separation allows the sisters to see and interact with each other directly for the first time, as they previously faced opposite directions.

The twins arrived in the United States in March 2025. Following the surgery, they have entered intensive rehabilitation programs at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital to develop motor skills that were impossible to practice while conjoined. Wuhbto has already undergone a cranioplasty to reconstruct her skull, while Hiyab is expected to undergo a similar procedure later this fall.

Support for the twins has involved multiple organizations, including World Pediatrics, which managed guardianship and international coordination, and Lola Children’s Home in Ethiopia, which cared for them prior to their relocation.