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New York City, NY (June 7, 2004) – Conjoined Filipino twins Carl and Clarence Aguirre are “doing great and looking fine” as they recuperate from last week’s surgical procedure, to insert tissue expanders under the skin covering their skulls. That’s the observation of David Staffenberg, MD, chief plastic surgeon at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore.
“The boys are awake, alert and playing with their mother, Arlene,” said Dr. Staffenberg. “And there is no sign of infection as had been the case in two earlier attempts at inserting the expanders.
Clarence and Carl are now resting in a special bed, donated by the Hill-Rom company. The bed is normally used for adults being treated for spinal injuries, burns or other illnesses that require reduced mattress pressure during long periods of bed rest.
“Rather than design something completely new,” said Dr. Staffenberg, “ we have decided to take something already existing and alter it slightly to accommodate the boys.”
The bed’s mattress is comprised of small silicon beads and is pumped full of warm air that reduces pressure on the boys’ head wounds, where the expanders were placed. According to Dr. Staffenberg, “the bed is the consistency of loose Jello.”
In order to ensure the very active twins don’t crawl out of the bed, the staff at Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, NY, where the boys stay for therapy in between surgeries, have fitted it with plexiglass side panels.
“The boys are getting stronger every day,” said Dr. Staffenberg. “Normal crib railings just didn’t work any more and we’re hoping the side panels will do the trick and keep Carl and Clarence in the bed!”
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