Landmark Surgery-Docs separate twins joined at the head in 20 hour operation

New York : Forty medical experts at a New York hospital successfully separated conjoined twins attached at the head after a 20 hour procedure.

Officials at Montefiore Medical Centre in the Bronx said the 13-month-old boys, Jadon and Anias McDonald, were recovering from the marathon surgery, hospital officials said.

Their mother, Nicole McDonald, said the atmosphere at the hospital was "one of celebration mixed with uncertainty."

She said Jadon did better than Anias during the procedure, adding that doctors predicted the former might not be able to move part of his body at first.

The operation was led by pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. James Goodrich and plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Oren Tepper. In 2004, Goodrich also successfully separated Carl and Clarence Aguirre and a half dozen other sets of twins from around the world.