UK charity, Gemini Untwined, partners with UAE to perform nation’s first surgery to separate twins conjoined at the head

Video courtesy of BBC News.

Gemini Untwined has partnered with Abu Dhabi’s PureHealth to successfully perform the UAE’s first surgical separation of craniopagus twin girls, Mercy and Goodness, who were born in Nigeria with fused skulls and interconnected brain tissue and blood vessels.

The complex separation took place at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi and marked the ninth successful craniopagus separation completed by Gemini Untwined. The twins have since made full recoveries and returned home to Nigeria.

The procedure brought together medical specialists from the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Brazil and Nigeria, demonstrating the power of international collaboration in tackling some of the world’s most challenging medical cases.

The surgical team utilised a number of pioneering techniques and technologies, including gravity distraction methods, artificial intelligence modelling, virtual and mixed reality planning tools, and advanced 3D imaging. These innovations helped reduce surgical complexity, improve precision and minimise the need for additional procedures during recovery.

Led by Professor Noor ul Owase Jeelani MBE, founder of Gemini Untwined and Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital, the team spent months planning the operation using immersive digital technologies to map the twins’ intricate vascular and neurological systems before surgery.

The separation was completed over four surgical procedures spanning four months and four days, involving more than 60 healthcare professionals from over 20 nationalities.

This landmark achievement represents a significant advancement in the field of craniopagus twin separation and highlights how innovation, expertise and global collaboration can transform lives and create new possibilities for children and families facing extraordinary medical challenges.