Clifford Anekealmost 6 years ago

Tail boy

Case of a 17 year old boy with an 18 cm long tail! This condition usually presents in newborns and is brought to medical attention very early. In this case, the patient seeked medical advice very late at the age of 17 years when his tail had grown considerably to the size of 18 cm. The patient and his family did not consult doctors because of superstition, illiteracy, social stigma, and shame. The parents were made to believe that this tail is a gift from Hindu monkey god “Hanuman,” and hence named their child after him. The patient was operated under general anesthesia. At operation, an elliptical skin incision was made around base of appendage. The stalk of appendage was identified and followed through a defect in lumbosacral fascia. The tail was connected with small fibrous band to the dura. There was no intradural connection with neural tissue or filum. The bony spur at the base of tail was nibbled and flattened. Primary layered closure was achieved. There was no postoperative complication. The human tail is an example of vestigial organ and is supposed to represent useless remnant of what were once functional and useful organ in our primitive ancestors. Case credit @medicalpedia