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Spinal cord involvement in pygopagus conjoined twins: case report and review of the literature

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Abstract

Introduction.

Pygopagus conjoined twins are joined at the rump and have union of the gastrointestinal and genitourinary systems as well occasional involvement of neural elements.

Case report.

We report a case where the terminal spinal cords were fused, despite which there was only a minor motor deficit in the lower limbs after separation. The pre-operative and intra-operative findings are described and issues of long-term follow-up discussed.

Discussion.

Seven other cases reported in the literature with varying degrees of involvement of the spinal cord and cauda equina are reviewed.

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Acknowledgements.

We are indebted to Emeritus Professor Sid Cywes for his help. Debbie Moodie and Jill Swanepoel provided expert secretarial assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Divisions of Paediatric Neuroscience (Neurosurgery), Paediatric Surgery and Paediatric Radiology, School of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa

    Graham Fieggen, Alastair Millar, Heinz Rode, Petronilla Ngiloi, Savvas Andronikou & Jonathan Peter

  2. Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

    Graham Fieggen, Alastair Millar, Heinz Rode, Petronilla Ngiloi, Savvas Andronikou & Jonathan Peter

  3. Institute for Child Health, Red Cross Children's Hospital, Room 617, Klipfontein Road, 7700, Rondebosch, South Africa

    Graham Fieggen

Authors
  1. Graham Fieggen
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  2. Alastair Millar
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  3. Heinz Rode
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  4. Petronilla Ngiloi
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  5. Savvas Andronikou
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  6. Jonathan Peter
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Correspondence to Graham Fieggen.

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Fieggen, G., Millar, A., Rode, H. et al. Spinal cord involvement in pygopagus conjoined twins: case report and review of the literature. Childs Nerv Syst 19, 183–187 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-002-0712-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-002-0712-y

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