Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, May 12: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (SMVD) Narayana Superspeciality Hospital has successfully performed the region’s first-ever C1-C2 cervical spine fixation surgery, saving the life of a 70-year-old pilgrim from a remote village near Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
The elderly woman sustained multiple life-threatening injuries after a severe fall while undertaking her pilgrimage to the holy Cave Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi. She was rushed to SMVD Narayana Superspeciality Hospital in a highly critical condition with major trauma involving the head, cervical spine, chest and limbs. The patient was immediately shifted to the Neuro-ICU, where doctors worked round-the-clock to stabilize her condition.
Dr Summit Dev, Consultant Neuro-Critical Care, said, “The patient arrived in an extremely critical state with multi-organ trauma. Our immediate priority was aggressive stabilization and continuous monitoring in the Neuro-ICU.”
After stabilization, the neurosurgery team first operated on her head injuries. However, further investigations revealed a far more complex and dangerous challenge – a fracture involving the C1 and C2 vertebrae, located at the highest level of the cervical spine near the skull base.
Dr Khushwant Singh, Consultant Neurosurgery, explained the complexity of the surgery. “C1-C2 fixation is among the most technically demanding spinal procedures because of its close proximity to the brainstem and major blood vessels supplying the brain.”
Despite the patient’s advanced age and the complexity of the injury, the surgery was completed successfully with excellent post-operative recovery. The patient developed no neurological deficits and was discharged within six days of the spinal fixation surgery.
In a compassionate gesture towards pilgrim welfare, the Shrine Board also bore the complete cost of treatment – including emergency care, ICU management, complex neurosurgery, medicines and hospitalization – ensuring that the patient received world-class treatment without any financial burden.
Dr Yashpal Sharma, Executive Director, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME), said, “This successful surgery is not just a medical milestone but also reflects the commitment of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board towards healthcare and pilgrim welfare.”
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