Doctors successfully separate twin girls conjoined at the head

Hiyab and Wuhbto, two-year-old conjoined twin sisters from Ethiopia, were successfully separated on February 24-25, 2026, after a complex 24-hour surgery at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. The twins had an extremely rare condition known as craniopagus, where their skulls were joined at the crown and they faced opposite directions. Dr. Joanna Kemp led the surgical team, which included nearly 30 medical specialists who planned for more than 300 hours before performing the operation. Post-surgery, Hiyab underwent a cranioplasty procedure to repair her skull, while plans are in place for Wuhbto to have the same operation later this year. Ronald McDonald House Charities and Ethiopian Airlines facilitated the girls' travel to the U.S., where they received critical care that could not be provided locally due to the complexity of their condition.