J Korean Orthop Assoc. 2014 Aug;49(4):321-325. Korean.
Published online Aug 27, 2014.
Copyright © 2014 by The Korean Orthopaedic Association
Case Report

Eighteen Year Follow-Up Results of Accessory Lower Limb Disarticulation and Pelvic Bone Reconstruction for Monocephalus Tripus Tribrachius

Tai-Seung Kim, M.D., Tae-Yang Shin, M.D. and Sung-Jae Kim, M.D.
    • Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Received November 07, 2013; Revised February 11, 2014; Accepted February 13, 2014.

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Monocephalus tripus tribrachius, a type of conjoined twins with one head and three upper and lower extremities, is a rare congenital disorder. To date, no long-term follow-up results of surgical procedures for this condition have been reported in Korean literature. We experienced a case of monocephalus tripus tribrachius, which had been surgically managed with an accessory lower limb disarticulation and pelvic bone reconstruction to manage this accessory limb and accompanying comorbidities in hip joint and pelvis. Subsequently, ipsilateral Syme amputation was done for intractable deformity of foot, and later, ipsilateral femoral varus derotational osteotomy was done for inadequate coverage of femoral head observed in follow-up. We report 18-year follow-up results of the procedures with a review of literatures.

Keywords
conjoined twins; disarticulation; pelvis; reconstruction

Figures

Figure 1
(A) Initial plain radiograph of monocephalus tripus tribrachius. Accessory lower limb is shown on the middle portion of the pelvis and the redundant ischial bone is forming an accessory acetabular structure. (B) Schematic presentation of the initial gross appearance of the case.

Figure 2
Plain radiograph taken at two years following accessory lower limb disarticulation and reconstruction of the pelvic bone. The wires were used to fixate both ischial bones, forming new symphysis pubis.

Figure 3
(A) Plain radiograph taken at 11 years of age shows good acetabular coverage and joint congruency in both hip joints. (B) The radiograph included both weight bearing whole lower limbs taken at 11 years of age. Extension-block knee brace and syme amputation prosthesis are shown. (C) The latest follow-up radiograph taken at 18 years of age.

References

    1. O'Neill JA Jr, Holcomb GW 3rd, Schnaufer L, et al. Surgical experience with thirteen conjoined twins. Ann Surg 1988;208:299–312.
    1. Spencer R. Parasitic conjoined twins: external, internal (fetuses in fetu and teratomas), and detached (acardiacs). Clin Anat 2001;14:428–444.
    1. Mahajan JK, Devendra K, Mainak D, Rao KL. Asymmetric conjoined twins: atypical ischiopagus parasite. J Pediatr Surg 2002;37:E33.
    1. Corona-Rivera JR, Corona-Rivera E, Franco-Topete R, Acosta-León J, Aguila-Dueñas V, Corona-Rivera A. Atypical parasitic ischiopagus conjoined twins. . J Pediatr Surg 2003;38:e3.
    1. Votteler TP, Lipsky K. Long-term results of 10 conjoined twin separations. J Pediatr Surg 2005;40:618–629.
    1. Lee ES, Yoo CI. A case of "monocephalus tripus dibrachius". J Korean Orthop Assoc 1971;6:419–424.
    1. Gaine WJ, McCreath SW. Syme's amputation revisited: a review of 46 cases. J Bone Joint Surg Br 1996;78:461–467.
    1. Sponseller PD, Jani MM, Jeffs RD, Gearhart JP. Anterior innominate osteotomy in repair of bladder exstrophy. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2001;83:184–193.
    1. Shultz WG. Plastic repair of exstrophy of bladder combined with bilateral osteotomy of ilia. J Urol 1958;79:453–458.
    1. Vining NC, Song KM, Grady RW. Classic bladder exstrophy: orthopaedic surgical considerations. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2011;19:518–526.

Metrics
Share
Figures

1 / 3

PERMALINK