Newborn girl with birth defect has tail surgically removed

After being born with a tail at the end of her caudal vertebra, an infant in eastern China's Anhui province made it safely through a surgery to have the tail removed.

The tail of the infant, nicknamed Taotao, now 5 months old, was about as long as a Q-tip. Boneless and soft, it could curve and unwind without causing Taotao any pain. According to the surgeon, Meng Lixiang, the tail was likely caused by a malformation of the central nervous system, one of the most common infant deformities. Central nervous system deformities account for 51 percent of all congenital deformities, and 64 percent of the children afflicted with the condition develop tails.

Meng said Taotao could potentially have lost neurological functions if her tail was not removed, eventually leading to more serious symptoms including gatism, hollow feet and even hydrocephalus, syringomyelia or asymmetric nerves in certain severe cases.

Scientists are still researching the factors that lead to Taotao's specific condition. Experts said that prenatal examinations are necessary to curtail malformations. Once a tail is identified after birth, parents should go to the hospital as soon as possible to guarantee the best treatment.