According to The Times of Israel, doctors in Israel performed a “miracle” surgery on a 12-year-old kid, reattaching his head to his neck after he was hit by a car while riding his bicycle. According to the publication, Suleiman Hassan experienced an “internal decapitation” in which his skull severed from the top vertebrae of his spine during an automobile collision. A bilateral Atlanta occipital joint dislocation is the medical term for this problem. Following the accident, the kid was rushed to Hadassah Medical Center for emergency surgery. The doctors stated that his head was “almost completely detached from the base of his neck.”
The orthopedic physician who conducted the treatment, Dr. Ohad Einav, told The Times of Israel that it took several hours and required the implantation of “new plates and fixations in the damaged area.” “Our ability to save the child was thanks to our knowledge and the most innovative technology in the operating room,” he explained, adding that the team “fought for the boy’s life.” The surgeons also agree that his recovery was nothing short of miraculous, given that the kid had just a 50% chance of survival.
Rare surgery required specialized doctors and expertise
The treatment was performed last month, but the results were not made public until July. Mr. Hassan was just released from the hospital wearing a cervical splint, and the hospital claimed that they will continue to monitor his recovery. “The fact that such a child has no neurological deficits or sensory or motor dysfunction and that he is functioning normally and walking without an aid after such a long process is no small thing,” Dr. Einav told the outlet. He also added that the extremely rare surgery needs specialized doctors, adding that the “large size of a child’s head relative to an adult means they are more susceptible.” “This is not a common surgery at all, and especially not on children and teens. A surgeon needs knowledge and experience to do this,” he said.
At no point did the boy’s father abandon his son. He expressed gratitude to the hospital workers for preserving “his only son.” “Thanks to you, he was able to reclaim his life even when the odds were stacked against him and the danger was obvious.” Professionalism, technology, and swift decision-making by the trauma and orthopedics team saved his life. “All I can say is thank you,” he told the medical team, according to the source.
