
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, October 9, 1993                   TAG: 9310090142
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

BABY HOMEWARD BOUND AFTER REMOVAL OF 3RD

A 4-month-old Honduran girl has been discharged from a Richmond hospital after an unusual surgery to remove a third leg that was the remnant of a once- attached twin, officials said.

The extra leg was normal in size and appearance, and extended between the baby's two normal legs, said Dr. Charles Bagwell, the pediatric surgeon who performed the operation at St. Mary's Hospital last week.

The leg had no muscular or nerve connections and would have prevented the baby from crawling or walking, he said.

The infant, identified only as Baby Karen, was discharged Wednesday.

In Baby Karen's case, the blood supplied to her Siamese twin became interrupted during development, Bagwell said. Only the twin's leg maintained good circulation and survived, he said.

Organs and other systems that do not receive adequate blood supplies during fetal development wither away, and any tissue from them is absorbed in the womb, he said.

Bagwell said he expects Baby Karen to have a normal life.

Baby Karen was brought to Richmond by Medical Care for Children, a volunteer organization that arranges for specialized medical care of children from Third World countries.

Ann Smith, the unpaid director of the organization, had been caring for Baby Karen in her home before the operation and will continue to care for her until she can be returned to her parents in Honduras in the next several weeks.

by CNB