11 June 2015 (00:17 UTC-07 Tango 01)/21 Kordad 1394/23 Sha’ban 1436/25 Ren-Wu (4th month) 4713

“With the 3D model, we could better understand the actual anatomical structure of the twin girls’ conjoined parts. And it helped us to decide on a more precise starting point…”-Zheng Shan, chief surgeon

A 3D printer helped Chinese medical personnel separate two girls joined at the butt.

Healthcare workers at the Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, in Shanghai, used MRI and  CT scans, in conjunction with the printer, to map out and create 3D models of the infant girl’s hips and spines.  They used the models to practice ‘virtual’ operations, before performing the actual separation.

The concern was that it appeared that the last part of the girl’s lower intestine were fused into one.

So far the operation is considered successful, but doctors are waiting three days to make sure the girls are recovering well, before making an official proclamation.