• Eight-month-old Karam from Iraq developed four extra limbs after a few weeks of his birth that protruded out of his stomach.
  • In India, he was admitted to Jaypee Hospital, Noida for his treatment.
  • At the hospital, he was diagnosed with polymelia, a rare disorder.
  • His condition was extremely critical when he was brought to the hospital, said Dr. Rajesh Sharma, Director of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at Jaypee Hospital.
  • Out of the four extra limbs, one of his legs were short whereas as the other one branched out in a way that it looked like two seperate limbs.
  • Two other limbs (a leg and a hand) protruded out of his stomach. Even the normal leg of the baby was crooked.
  • He was also born with a single kidney.
  • The team of doctors who treated Karam included doctors from Pediatric Cardiology, Orthopedics, Pediatrics and Aesthetics and Reconstruction departments.
  • The surgical procedure to remove the extra limbs consisted of three stages:
    • Karam's crooked feet was treated and the two extra limbs extending from his stomach was removed in the first two stages.
    • In the third stage the other two limbs were removed and a pelvic osteotomy was performed to treat his deformed back.   
  • Each stage of the surgery took 7-8 hours to complete.
  • Karam is now recovering steadily. 

 

Source: Jaypee Hospital, Media Update