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Fresh surgery for 'mermaid' girl 'Mermaid' girl's legs separated
(about 6 hours later)
A medical team in Peru has begun a second operation on a two-year-old girl born with fused legs which should allow her to walk unassisted. A medical team in Peru has successfully completed a second operation on a two-year-old girl born with fused legs which should allow her to walk unaided.
Milagros Cerron has a condition known as "mermaid syndrome" or sirenomelia, which usually kills sufferers within days of birth. Head doctor Luis Rubio said Milagros Cerron was stable after surgery and there were no complications.
Surgeons have already separated her legs to above the knees in a successful operation in June. Milagros has "mermaid syndrome" or sirenomelia, a condition which usually kills sufferers within days of birth.
Surgeons separated her legs to above the knees in a June operation and have now finished work on her thighs.
The process will take at least another 10 years to complete, they say.The process will take at least another 10 years to complete, they say.
Milagros is one of only three known survivors of the condition, and her progress has been followed closely throughout Peru.Milagros is one of only three known survivors of the condition, and her progress has been followed closely throughout Peru.
Click here to see the operation procedureClick here to see the operation procedure
Standing aloneStanding alone
The two-year-old, known to Peruvians as the "little mermaid", waved and blew kisses to well-wishers ahead of the operation, the Associated Press news agency said.The two-year-old, known to Peruvians as the "little mermaid", waved and blew kisses to well-wishers ahead of the operation, the Associated Press news agency said.
I expect to be walking the streets of Lima holding her hand in December, which would be a Christmas gift for her family Luis RubioHead physicianI expect to be walking the streets of Lima holding her hand in December, which would be a Christmas gift for her family Luis RubioHead physician
Head physician Luis Rubio said the operation, which would take two-and-a-half hours, would separate the remaining 10cm (4in) of fused tissue below the groin. Afterwards Dr Rubio raised the little girl's legs to show they were fully separated.
"With this operation we hope to fully conclude the separation of her lower limbs," he said. "There were no problems," he said. "There were no complications from anaesthesia or from haemorrhaging," he said, quoted by the Associated Press news agency.
"I expect to be walking the streets of Lima holding her hand in December, which would be a Christmas gift for her family." Milagros' father said his great hope was that one day she would walk.
Milagros had already developed the ability to stand alone and take small assisted steps, he added. "In a few years she will be going to kindergarten and I hope she can walk like the other children so that she can learn and be a normal child," he said.
Milagros had already developed the ability to stand alone and take small assisted steps, Dr Rubio said before the surgery.
"I expect to be walking the streets of Lima holding her hand in December, which would be a Christmas gift for her family," he added.
More surgeryMore surgery
Most sirenomelia sufferers have severe organ damage and die within hours.Most sirenomelia sufferers have severe organ damage and die within hours.
The only person who is known to have survived in the long term is 16-year-old American Tiffany Yorks, whose legs were separated before she was a year old.The only person who is known to have survived in the long term is 16-year-old American Tiffany Yorks, whose legs were separated before she was a year old.
Milagros was relatively unharmed, having one good kidney.Milagros was relatively unharmed, having one good kidney.
But she will need operations at a later date to reconstruct her urinary, digestive and genital systems.But she will need operations at a later date to reconstruct her urinary, digestive and genital systems.
Milagros was born in the mountain city of Huancayo, 200km (125 miles) east of Lima - Peru's capital - to a very poor family.Milagros was born in the mountain city of Huancayo, 200km (125 miles) east of Lima - Peru's capital - to a very poor family.
However, the costs of the operation are being met by the city of Lima, whose mayor is the girl's godfather. However, the costs of surgery are being met by the city of Lima, whose mayor is the girl's godfather.
STAGES OF SEPARATION PROCEDURE 1 - Legs are fused together by skin and feet splayed in a V-shape2 - Saline sacks inserted and gradually filled to stretch the skin3 - Legs separated, using the stretched skin to cover the wounds4 - A later operation will rotate splayed feet forwardSTAGES OF SEPARATION PROCEDURE 1 - Legs are fused together by skin and feet splayed in a V-shape2 - Saline sacks inserted and gradually filled to stretch the skin3 - Legs separated, using the stretched skin to cover the wounds4 - A later operation will rotate splayed feet forward
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