[2111USMC]

If that diagram is correct, it looks like they will have to severe her spinal cord. I’m not a doctor, and I didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn last night, but this looks like an extremely risky undertaking.

[Joe 6-pack]

"If that diagram is correct, it looks like they will have to severe her spinal cord."

I'm no doctor either (not by a long shot!), and while the surgery is no doubt very risky, I would have to guess that the parasitic twin had a spinal cord of its own which would need to be cut if not entirely removed.

[ReignOfError]

If that diagram is correct, it looks like they will have to severe her spinal cord. I’m not a doctor, and I didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn last night, but this looks like an extremely risky undertaking.

Risky? Definitely. The question is one of risk/reward ratio. With the surgery, she might live normally, be able to walk and work and marry and have a life.

If a child were born with eight functional, usable limbs, that would be an interesting question. Could the human brain manage those? But in the case in point, the little girl has non-functioning limbs. They just flop around, and if not removed, they'll be a life-long threat of injuries that could cause clots, hemorrhaging or even gangrene.