KATRA: In a remarkable achievement in emergency trauma care, doctors at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital (SMVDNSH), Kakryal, successfully treated a young man who suffered critical brain and facial injuries in a motorcycle accident, following a complex seven-hour emergency surgery.
The patient, who was brought to the hospital in an unresponsive condition with multiple life-threatening injuries, made an excellent recovery and was discharged within a week. He regained normal vision, full eye movements and showed no neurological deficit.
Detailed investigations revealed a depressed skull fracture, extensive brain injuries, fractures involving the anterior cranial fossa and multiple tears in the dura, the protective covering of the brain.
The patient had also suffered a severely fragmented fracture of the orbital roof, with several displaced bone fragments entering the cranial cavity. The injuries had pushed his eyeball upwards, significantly affecting his vision and eye movements. He had also sustained a fracture of the lower jaw.
Considering the critical condition of the patient, doctors stabilised him and immediately performed emergency surgery under the leadership of Dr. Khushwant Singh Kanwal, Consultant Neurosurgeon at SMVDNSH.
During the seven-hour procedure, the surgical team addressed extensive damage to the brain and surrounding bone structures. The depressed skull fracture was carefully elevated, damaged brain tissue and contusions were treated, and the injured anterior cranial fossa was meticulously repaired.
One of the most challenging aspects of the surgery involved reconstructing the severely damaged orbital roof. Bone fragments obtained from the patient’s fractured skull were carefully reshaped and used to rebuild the roof of the eye socket, restoring the anatomical support and position of the eye. The frontal sinus was also appropriately managed during the reconstruction.
Following the neurosurgical and orbital reconstruction, Dr. Arjun Malhotra, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at SMVDNSH, performed Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) to stabilise and repair the fractured lower jaw.
Commenting on the case, Dr. Khushwant Singh Kanwal said timely intervention in severe head injuries plays a crucial role in improving the chances of recovery. He described the case as an exceptionally complex injury involving the brain, skull, eye socket and facial structures, requiring precise surgical planning and close coordination between multiple specialties.
He added that despite extensive brain injuries and significant displacement of the eye, timely surgical intervention and meticulous reconstruction helped restore the patient’s neurological function, vision and facial anatomy.
Dr. Yash Pal Sharma, Facility Director, SMVDNSH, said the successful treatment demonstrated the hospital’s multidisciplinary capabilities and advanced trauma management facilities. He emphasised that managing such critical cases requires prompt decision-making, highly skilled surgical teams and seamless coordination among different specialties.
The patient showed steady improvement following the surgery and was discharged in a stable condition within a week of the accident, with normal vision, unrestricted eye movements and no neurological deficit.
The successful outcome highlights SMVDNSH’s capabilities in handling complex and life-threatening trauma cases through advanced neurosurgical, craniofacial and maxillofacial procedures. It also underlines the importance of timely access to specialised emergency and trauma care within the region.
The hospital reiterated its commitment to strengthening advanced emergency and trauma services by bringing specialised medical expertise, modern surgical facilities and coordinated patient care under one roof.
