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Doctors in St. Louis, Missouri, have successfully separated two-year-old twin sisters from Ethiopia who were joined at the head from birth. The girls, Hiyab and Wuhbto, were born as craniopagus twins.
The twins underwent six major operations over several months. The final separation procedure was carried out in February 2026 and lasted about 24 hours.
Andrew White, chief pediatrician at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Hospital, said the medical team had performed six complex neurological, plastic and reconstructive surgeries. The procedures culminated in the final separation operation.
The hospital issued a statement several months after the surgery, saying that doctors had waited for the twins to reach certain health milestones needed for rehabilitation.
According to the doctors, one of the main challenges was separating the extensive network of blood vessels shared around the girls’ skulls. Neurosurgeon Joanna Kemp said part of the blood vessels had to be redirected toward one twin and the remaining portion toward the other.
The medical team carried out a four-stage procedure to gradually separate the vessels and enable each child to develop an independent blood supply. After earlier vessel-separation operations caused a brief imbalance in blood flow between the twins, doctors adjusted the treatment schedule.
Hiyab and Wuhbto were brought from Mekele, Ethiopia, to the United States in 2025 with support from charitable organizations specializing in children’s healthcare. They were taken to St. Louis for treatment.
Following the separation, the sisters underwent rehabilitation at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital. Although their rehabilitation is continuing, doctors said they were pleased with the girls’ progress.
Craniopagus twins are conjoined twins connected at the skull. Their separation typically requires extensive planning and multiple surgeries because they may share blood vessels and, in some cases, parts of the brain’s protective structures.
