Conjoined Twins A Closer Look By Andrew Coldrick

What are conjoined twins? The term “conjoined twins” is used to refer to identical twins who are attached to each other in-utero Conjoined twins are not common, consisting of only 1 in every 50,000 to 100,000 births, with a higher prevalence occurring in Southern Asia and Africa Conjoined twins are dangerous for both children involved, and around 75% of conjoined twins die because of the medical complications resulting from the condition The condition is more common in females, with there being 3 female sets of conjoined twins for every male Most times, surgery is used to separate the twins if it can be determined that it is possible and that it will not kill the twins, although complications can still occur. Other twins stay connected to each other for various reasons, and live their lives permanently attached to one another

The different types Conjoined twins can be attached at different parts of the body, sharing different organs, and experiencing varying different levels of connection with each other The most common type of conjoined twins are the thoraco-omphalopagus kind, which is when the two twins are conjoined at the chest, occurring in about 28 percent of conjoined twin cases Other common varieties of conjoined twins include thoracopagus twins, who are conjoined at the heart, omphalophagus twins, which are coinjoined at the lower chest, and craniopagus twins, which are conjoined at the head Parasitic twins, in which a much smaller, partially formed twin leeches off the stronger, developed twin, is also common, but parasitic twins are atypical in comparison to other conjoined twins Less common varieties of conjoined twins include cephalophagus twins, in which there are two faces on one head, and synecephalus twins, which have one head, but two bodies and four ears

Medical Complications As one would imagine, there are a lot of medical complications regarding conjoined twins, although many of these problems lie not with their being conjoined, but occur in the process of separation Many conjoined twins die soon after birth or even are born still-born, having already died due to medical complications in the womb The complications that can arise, which can range from minor physical problems to death, generally depend on how the twins are connected, and the organs that the twins share. Twins that are connected at the back, for example, have a much higher rate of survival and removal than twins conjoined at the heart and head Success rates are still relatively low, but since 1950, at least one twin has survived a removal operation in approximately 75 percent of such cases Amongst twins who are not separated, heart problems and developmental conditions, both physical and mental, are common, requiring lifelong treatment and care

The Separation Process Separation of conjoined twins is a complicated process, and in many cases, it can not be done at all, as it would cause severe damage and even death to the twins Often it is better to live the twins attached, even if they can be separated, as their quality of life would be better conjoined than apart Before such surgery even takes place, a wide bevy of x-rays and scans are used to asses the risks and benefits of the surgery, and to determine where the incisions should be made if detachment is viewed as a possibility The surgery is complicated, expensive, and only performed at certain medical centers. Recently, the government of Saudi Arabia has agreed to pay for the separation of conjoined twins at a hospital in its borders There are many challenges that occur even after a successful separation. Physical therapy is often needed due to the malformation of the spines that occurs in the majority of conjoined twins

Famous Examples Perhaps the most famous example on conjoined twins in history are Chang and Eng Bunker, a pair of conjoined twins from Thailand who achieved fame in the early 1800’s for being part of a travelling sideshow. The term “Siamese Twins” comes from these men Other famous examples of conjoined twins include Abigail and Brittany Hensel, one of whom recently got engaged, and Krista and Tatiana Hogan, who were recently profiled in the New York Times magazine

Challenges of Life As one would imagine, conjoined twins often life a difficult life, both physically and emotionally Generally, with conjoined twins, one twin is smaller and weaker than the other, and the fact that they are conjoined makes it almost impossible to fix The emotional turmoil of being a subject of public attention takes its toll, especially on young children, and mental development is often delayed in many twins conjoined at the head

In Conclusion Conjoined twins, despite being a rare phenomenon, are the subject of much public interest due to the sheer curiosity and interest in such an interesting phenomenon across the general populace The success and livelihoods of conjoined twins varies on a variety of factors, with some dying soon after birth, and some living long and productive lives The medical and physiological effects that afflict conjoined twins are still being researched and examined to this day, so we have a better understanding of the phenomenon