Rohtak PGI docs remove rod from boy's head

Doctors at the neurosurgery department of Rohtak PGIMS have successfully performed a life-saving surgery by removing a rod from the head of a 14-year-old boy.

The boy was brought to the hospital in a critical condition with a rod having passed through his brain and stuck in his head.

The difficult and high-risk procedure, carried out by a team of doctors headed by Dr Gopal Krishna, a professor of neurosurgery at the institute.

"The boy, a resident of Mewat, arrived at the emergency wing of the PGIMS in a state of severe trauma and in an unconscious condition. A metal rod had pierced his skull, causing significant damage to the brain. Due to the nature of the injury, the boy was unresponsive and critical, leaving little time for a thorough assessment as immediate intervention was needed," said the treating doctors.

The surgery, described by the medical team as one of the most challenging and life-threatening operations, involved the delicate task of carefully removing the rod from the patient’s brain without causing any further damage. The rod had caused fractures in the left side of the skull and there was subdural and subarachnoid haemorrhage.

“The rod had to be extracted with extreme precision as any mistake could have resulted in permanent neurological damage or even instant death. The complexity of the surgery cannot be overstated. It was a very tense and delicate procedure,” said Dr Krishna.

The team used state-of-the-art techniques, including advanced imaging technology and microsurgical tools, to access the brain, minimise blood loss and preserve vital brain tissue. The operation lasted several hours, but in the end, the team was able to successfully extract the rod without causing any further harm to the patient’s brain.

The boy regained consciousness within a few hours after the surgery and was able to recognise his family members and walk in a few days.

The doctors at the department of neurosurgery described his recovery as miraculous, given the severity of the injury and the complexity of the surgery.

“It’s nothing short of a miracle,” said Dr Ishwar Singh, senior professor and head of the neurosurgery department at the PGIMS.

The boy’s parents have expressed their gratitude to the PGIMS doctors.

“We had little hope of his survival. But thanks to the team of doctors at the PGIMS, our son is alive and recovering well,” said the boy's father.