Doctors at a hospital in Malaga have successfully carried out a pioneering operation on a one-month-old baby weighing just three kilograms.

It is the first-ever procedure of its kind on such a young and lightweight patient.

The surgery was performed by the Paediatric Maxillofacial Surgery Unit at Malaga’s Materno Infantil Hospital, working alongside specialists in neonatology, anaesthesia, paediatric gastroenterology and respiratory medicine.

The baby had been transferred from a private hospital after being diagnosed with Pierre Robin sequence, a rare congenital condition that causes an abnormally small lower jaw, the tongue to fall backwards and potentially life-threatening airway obstruction.

The condition is also commonly associated with severe feeding difficulties and, in some cases, a cleft palate.

To treat the condition, surgeons carried out an internal mandibular distraction procedure, gradually lengthening the baby’s jaw to move the tongue forward and open the airway.

Because of the patient’s age and size, the operation required highly specialised planning.

Doctors used 3D surgical planning technology and custom-made guides to precisely position tiny internal distraction devices designed specifically for the infant.

Paediatric maxillofacial surgeon Francisco Ruiz described it as ‘an enormously complex case’ because of the baby’s tiny size and weight.

‘The procedure allows us to treat the root cause of the airway obstruction, helping to normalise breathing and support healthy weight gain, both of which are essential for a newborn’s recovery,’ he said.

The baby was admitted weighing 3,460 grams and was discharged after reaching 4,470 grams, with doctors saying the significant weight gain reflected the clinical improvement achieved following surgery.

The technique offers a less invasive alternative to traditional treatments, which in the most severe cases can require a tracheostomy to help the child breathe.

By correcting the position of the jaw, surgeons can improve breathing, make feeding easier and support normal growth and development during the critical first weeks of life.

Hospital officials said the success of the operation was made possible by close collaboration between multiple medical specialties, combined with advanced 3D surgical technology that allowed the team to perform such delicate surgery safely on a neonatal patient.

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