Pediatrician Dr. Li confirmed that the baby was born with a tail at Hangzhou Children's Hospital. According to Dr. Li, the cause of the unusual tail is the result of incomplete degeneration.
"Tethered spinal cord is a condition in which the spinal cord is abnormally connected to surrounding tissues, typically at the base of the spine," Li said, adding that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spinal cord later confirmed the suspicions. Normally, the spinal cord floats freely within the spinal canal, allowing normal movement and function. However, when the spinal cord is tethered, this movement is restricted, which can lead to various neurological problems."
This is not the first time a baby has been born with a tail in China. In 2014, five-month-old Nuo Nuo was born with a developmental birth defect that left a gap in the spine. Within days of his birth, his mother noticed that his tail had started to grow, reaching five centimeters in length.
Nuo Nuo's worried parents consulted surgeons in Changsha, China, but they refused surgery. They were told there was nothing they could do for the child because the tail was connected to the nervous system and removing it would leave permanent damage.
