NCT06599281

The Importance of Physiotherapy After Separation Surgery in Pygopagus Conjoined Twins

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 4 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Acıbadem Atunizade Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 0 Years – 17 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Motor function delays are observed in pygopagus conjoined twins due to limited movement experience and deficits in proprioceptive sense. This study aimed to evaluate the neuromotor development of conjoined twins who acquired independent bodies, lives, and movements as a result of separation surgery, and to examine the effect of postoperative physiotherapy intervention on gross motor function.

Detailed description

The study included two cases of pygopagus conjoined twins who applied for separation surgery at Acıbadem Altunizade Hospital between 2021 and 2022. The twins were 9 months and 21 days old (A1-A2) and 23 months and 11 days old (B1-B2). After separation surgery, a conventional physiotherapy program was administered regularly for 3 months, 6 days a week, with two sessions per day, each lasting 45 minutes. The Bayley-III Developmental Screening Test (DST) was used to evaluate neuromotor development, while the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) and the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88) were used to assess gross motor development. Evaluations were performed preoperatively and at the 3rd postoperative month.

Conditions

• Pygopagus Conjoined Twins
• Separation Surgery
• Pediatric Physiotherapy

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Physiotherapy	The physical therapy program was applied for 3 months, 6 days a week, 2 sessions per day, and an average session duration of 45 minutes. Each neurodevelopmental exercise and proprioceptive exercise was applied for 10 minutes, and stretching exercises were applied for 45 seconds and 3 repetitions. The exercises included functional rotation, sitting with or without arm support, crawling, kneeling, half kneeling, standing up by holding on, and sequencing exercises. Stretching exercises were mostly positional stretches aimed at lateral flexion of the spine.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-09-15
• Primary completion: 2024-12-31
• Completion: 2024-12-31
• First posted: 2024-09-19
• Last updated: 2024-09-19

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)