A construction worker was rushed to the emergency department at Artemis Hospitals, Gurugram, following a severe accident. A steel rod had penetrated the occipital region of his skull and extended downward through the neck into the lower cervical spine, coming dangerously close to the vertebral arteries and spinal cord.
The injury presented an extremely delicate surgical challenge. Any attempt to remove the rod carried a high risk of catastrophic bleeding or permanent neurological damage. Detailed CT imaging was performed to assess the rod’s trajectory and guide the surgical strategy.
A multidisciplinary team of neurosurgeons, trauma specialists, anesthesiologists, and critical care experts carefully planned the extraction. During surgery, the protruding portion of the rod was shortened to allow safe positioning, after which the team meticulously removed it along its path of entry to minimise further injury to surrounding tissues.
The procedure was completed, and the rod was removed without neurological impairment. Remarkably, the patient retained full motor function and normal speech following surgery.
This case highlights the importance of precise surgical planning, advanced imaging, and coordinated multidisciplinary care in managing complex trauma.
At Artemis Hospitals, Gurugram, expert teams and advanced medical technology come together to deliver life-saving care, even in the most critical situations
