JAMMU: The Neurosurgery Department at AIIMS Jammu has achieved a significant milestone by successfully performing a highly complex reconstructive surgery on a 15-year-old girl from Pathankot, who was suffering from a rare bony tumour affecting her forehead and eye socket.
The patient had been diagnosed with an aneurysmal bone cyst—a benign but aggressive tumour—that led to visible facial deformity and gradual loss of vision. The condition severely impacted her confidence and even prevented her from attending school. The case posed a major challenge due to the tumour’s high risk of bleeding and its extension into the brain, where it was partially drawing blood supply from healthy brain tissue.
After weeks of detailed planning, the surgery was successfully carried out by Dr. Kanav Gupta and Dr. Shaurya Darbari, Assistant Professors in the Neurosurgery Department, with support from the anaesthesia team led by Dr. Raksha Kundal and Dr. Aleesha.
The procedure involved the use of advanced medical technologies. Intraoperative navigation enabled precise identification of the tumour’s deep extensions around the eye socket. A cell saver system was used to collect and recycle the patient’s own blood during surgery, minimizing the need for transfusions. Following the complete removal of the tumour, the affected bone was reconstructed using a titanium graft. The eyebrow region, crucial for facial appearance, was carefully restored using a quick-setting polymer bone putty, shaped during the procedure to match the natural contour.
The young patient has responded well to the surgery and is now ready for discharge, with restored facial symmetry and vision—marking a life-changing outcome for her and her family.
Highlighting the achievement, Dr. Shaurya Darbari, Officiating Head of the Department of Neurosurgery, said the case reflects the rapid progress made by the department within just seven months of its establishment. He noted that over 120 neurosurgeries have already been performed, including several complex cases that were considered inoperable elsewhere, attracting patients from Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh.
Prof. (Dr.) D.N. Sharma, Executive Director and CEO of AIIMS Jammu, also lauded the team’s efforts. He stated that such achievements are a matter of pride for the institute, adding that patients from the region no longer need to travel to institutions like AIIMS New Delhi or PGIMER Chandigarh for advanced neurosurgical care, as similar expertise is now available locally.
