Seven-month-old baby who was born with EIGHT LIMBS has life-changing surgery
The boy received surgery in India for Polymelia disease after he was refused surgery at his home in Iraq
A SEVEN-MONTH old baby boy born with eight limbs has had life changing surgery in India after doctors at his home in Iraq were unable to perform the operation.
Due to a lack of facilities the little boy was originally refused surgery, but in October last year he finally received the treatment he needed.
Karam Sarmed, from Baghdad, in Iraq, was admitted to Jaypee Hospital, in Noida, northern India, with Polymelia disease.
Polymelia is a birth defect which means that Karam was born with more than the normal number of limbs.
Karam had four extra limbs – two hands and two legs.
However, one limb was much shorter than a usual sized leg and the other one was divided into two separate limbs.
In addition, both a leg and a hand were protruding from Karam’s stomach.
While the hospital in Iraq were unable to perform the operation, the boy’s father Dr Sarmed Ahmed, 28, an emergency doctor, had heard of previous successful surgeries done in India.
As a result, he and his wife Gulfran Ali, 28, decided to fly Karam to India when he was just 17 days old, hoping for a miracle.
He said: “He’s my first child and it was heartbreaking to see his condition. We were devastated.
“We went to several doctors and hospitals in my country, but due to a lack of facilities they refused to do surgery. They said they cannot operate.
“Many suggested India and I desperately wanted to help my son, so we decided to take the chance and come here.
“We first came in October and went back after three weeks. Then we came back in December and that’s when surgery began.
“I cannot thank the doctors here enough. They have been so cooperative throughout and they’ve given my son a new life.”
Dr Abhishek, a consultant in the paediatrics department, at Jaypee Hospital, said: “When the baby was brought to the hospital, his limbs and intestines were distorted, and he only had one kidney.
“A team of doctors from multiple departments discussed his condition and we mutually agreed to correct the limbs and distorted intestines in three stages.”
Dr Gaurav Rathore, a senior consultant, from the orthopaedics department, at Jaypee Hospital, said: “In the first stage, Karam’s clubfeet were treated and the two limbs which were protruding out of his stomach were removed.
“After surgery, Karam went back to Iraq and we were in contact with the parents by phone and email for important advice.”
What is Polymelia disease?
Polymelia also known as hydra syndrome is a birth defect in which the affected individual has more than the usual number of limbs.
Sometimes this can be caused by the partial development of conjoined twins, where one twin degenerates leaving one or more limbs which end up attached to the other twin.
In other cases genetic mutation, both spontaneous and inherited or injuries, toxins and infections during fetal development can cause Polymelia.
Polymelia is a rare condition that affects about one in one million infants.
“Recently, we performed the third stage of the surgery in which we removed the other two limbs. Like any other normal kid Karam now has two legs.”
However the boy’s left leg was not developed completely, meaning that doctors transplanted the muscles of the removed limbs into it.
Along with this, Karam’s crooked back was also treated with pelvic osteotomy surgery.
Karam also had one normal testicle on the right side but on the left side he had two testicles. During surgery, one testicle was removed and the other was corrected.
The family will remain in hospital until Karam is strong enough to travel back to Iraq.
Dr Sarmed added: “My son is alright now. His condition is really stable.
“I’m glad to say he’s responded well to treatment. We’re looking forward to going home now.”
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