Case Study: How A 3-Year-Old Survived Severe Head Injury After A Horrific Road Accident

It was a case of emergency that required doctors to act swiftly and skillfully to save the life of a little three-year-old patient injured in a road accident that left her with a severe and horrific head injury. The girl underwent a life-saving and complex procedure, which was conducted by a dedicated team of doctors led by consultant neurosurgeon Dr Khursheed Ansari. The surgery was conducted at Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital in Powai, and offered the little one a new lease of life. Read on to know more about the case.

The challenging operation performed on the young patient involved multiple specialties. Dr Ansari was assisted by plastic surgeon Dr Dipesh Malviya, neonatologist Dr Shivkumar, and pediatrician Dr Sanjeev Ahuja. Together, they worked on the girl’s extensive injuries, and she was able to make an astonishing recovery.

The accident happened when the child, while standing in front of a two-wheeler, somehow suffered from a massive trauma to her head, leading to a shattered skull and critical scalp damage. The two-wheeler’s driver suffered from minor wounds and injuries, but the child’s health condition was serious.

According to a statement shared by the hospital, her head injuries were grave: the scalp had been ripped off in parts; the skull was shattered; some brain tissue had leaked out. She was rushed to a nearby hospital and later shifted to Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital in an unconscious state. Even though she breathed, she was fighting for her life.

Dr Ansari described the medical challenge as ‘piecing together a broken eggshell’.

The patient required a complex surgery, so Dr Ansari teamed up with Dr Malviya to rebuild her skull and repair her scalp. “To fill the large gaps in her skull, we used tissue from the girl to create a protective barrier for her brain, ensuring her safety and aiding her recovery,” the doctors said, as mentioned in the hospital statement.

After surgery, the patient needed careful attention. Neonatologist Dr Shivkumar and paediatrician Dr Ahuja monitored her progress closely, and provided constant care and support.

Within eight days, the girl showed improvement in her health. She opened her eyes, breathed on her own, and was discharged from the hospital.

“This case shows why every second matters in an emergency,” Dr Ansari said.