Surgery to remove baby's third arm a success
Shanghai, June 6 : Chinese doctors on Tuesday successfully
removed an abnormally well-
developed third arm of a two-month-old baby boy named Jiejie. "The
surgery has been a success," said Xin Lin, a spoke-swoman for the Shanghai Children's Medical Centre, where the complicated surgery was carried out, told AFP.
"The surgery finished around 11:30 (local time) said Xin. "He is now in the recovery room undergoing observation and is in stable condition." Jiejie's operation was unique because both left arms were well formed but neither was fully functional.
Babies who are born with an additional limb usually have one much more developed than the other on that side. Dr.Chen Bochang, head of the orthopedics department at the Children's hospital, opted to remove the arm that was smaller and lay bent close to the body. The other left arm is normally shaped but does not move unless it is pulled, and does not have a palm according to previous press reports.