Jaipur: Rungta Hospital is one of the best multi-speciality healthcare facilities in Jaipur, India, demonstrating once again its experience in performing advanced surgical procedures on high-risk patients by saving this patient from permanent paralysis after an emergency spinal surgery, resulting in an excellent outcome.
Mr Dharmveer was brought to Rungta Hospital after having a severe fall in a garden, resulting in a very severe neck injury with associated weakness in both arms and a severe level of pain. His family recognised that this was a critical injury and rushed him to Rungta Hospital for immediate and urgent medical attention.
Initial Diagnosis & CT Scan Findings
Upon arrival at the hospital, the emergency physician immediately ordered additional tests and performed an extensive clinical exam on Mr Dharmveer. They completed a CT scan that demonstrated that Mr Dharmveer had fractures of the C7-D1 vertebra and dislocations (listheses) of the C7 and C8 vertebrae with critical amounts of pressure on the spinal cord and spinal nerves at the same level. Based on these findings, the medical staff felt as if Mr Dharmveer was at “high risk” of becoming permanently paralysed if he did not receive immediate surgical treatment.
Injuries to the C7-D1 level of the spine are among the most sensitive levels of the spine with respect to nerve pathways that contribute to motion and feeling in the arms, trunk, and legs. If Mr Dharmveer had experienced even a minor delay or a lack of surgical precision, he may have experienced irreversible neurologic damage, loss of movement and may have had to rely on others for assistance in the rest of his life.
Emergency Surgery Needed Immediately
The Rungta Hospital’s Spine Surgery Team performed an extremely skilled, C7-D1-D2 Fixed Spine Surgery on a patient who sustained two decompressive laminectomies at C-7 and C-8. The medical team executed the procedure with great care, using cutting-edge surgical technology; nothing was left to chance regarding protecting the spinal cord and/or adjacent nerves from further injury.
The objectives of the surgery included:
- Fractured vertebrae stabilisation;
- Spinal cord decompression; and
- Prevention of permanent neurological damage to the patient.
To achieve these objectives, microsurgical precision and careful monitoring of the patient’s neurological status during surgery were critical.
Recovery & Surgery Success
The patient is fully neurologically intact after surgery and continues to improve in pain levels. The surgeon(s) concluded that the success of the surgery was due to timely intervention and excellent surgical precision, which prevented any long-term disability.
If the surgery had been delayed or not performed with surgical precision, the patient would have had to live the rest of his life lying in bed; he would likely have experienced permanent disability and would not have been able to walk.
This case further demonstrates that prompt assessment of spinal injuries versus delayed diagnosis and surgical intervention is paramount in terms of the outcome in patients who sustain complex spine injuries.
The advanced spine services at Rungta Hospital
Rungta Hospital provide strong proof of their specialisation in spinal surgery and includes:
- High-tech modular operating rooms
- State-of-the-art diagnostic/imaging equipment
- Highly-skilled surgeons specialising in spinal
- Intensive care units and specifically-trained post-surgical nursing staff
- Emergency services are available 24/7 across all hospital departments.
According to the hospital administration, the key to saving this patient from total, life-long neurological impairment was to have the proper diagnosis, a timely decision on the need for surgery, and the quality of surgical care delivery.
Rungta Hospital has established itself as one of Jaipur’s foremost healthcare providers by providing the highest levels of surgical and medical care in its Speciality Areas, including spinal surgery, neurology, cardiology, and other super-speciality care. This latest case continues to support their reputation as one of the most trusted hospitals in Jaipur for advanced and emergency health care.
Having quick access to medical treatment is crucial in determining if a person will experience a full recovery or suffer a lifetime of disability, and this case serves to emphasise the significant role that expert healthcare can play in extending or saving a life.
