New Delhi (India) [India], January 28 (HBTV): A 34-year-old construction worker is recovering at a private hospital after surviving what doctors described as an ‘unsurvivable accident’, in which a steel rod pierced through the back of his head and exited through his neck, narrowly missing critical blood vessels and brain structures.
The medical team, led by Dr Shashidhar TB, Head of the ENT Department, along with Dr Aseem Srivastava (CTVS), Dr Manan and anaesthetist Dr Jude, faced an unprecedented surgical challenge that required real-time adaptations at every stage of treatment.
According to a statement by the hospital, ‘The patient arrived at the emergency department with the steel rod, cut down from its original length to 2.5 feet by rescue workers, still lodged through his skull and neck. The complexity of the case demanded adaptations at every stage of treatment.’
The injury is believed to have been caused by a fall at the construction site, which led to the rod piercing the neck of the construction worker laterally, at an angle.
Radiologist Dr Venus conducted a CT scan with the rod still in place, modifying the patient’s position to accommodate the obstruction within the CT gantry. The imaging helped map the trajectory of the rod through vital anatomical structures. Anaesthesia was administered with the patient in a seated position, while the surgery was performed in a semi-reclined posture to ensure optimal access and safety.
‘The situation required careful planning and precision at each step,’ Dr Shashidhar TB noted. ‘Our focus was on ensuring the safest possible outcome given the extraordinary nature of the injury.’
Before making the initial incision, the surgical team prepared for multiple contingencies. Upon opening the neck, doctors observed that the rod had narrowly passed the carotid arteries, jugular veins and spinal cord.
The team secured all major blood vessels before carefully mobilising and extracting the rod. Damaged structures were repaired, and the patient emerged from surgery with complete neurological function intact.
The patient is currently recuperating in the intensive care unit, with doctors expecting a full recovery. The case highlights both extraordinary luck and the rapid-response capabilities of the trauma team at Artemis Hospital.
‘The rod’s path missed every structure that would have caused immediate death or permanent disability,’ Dr Shashidhar TB explained. ‘Combined with our team’s preparedness and innovative approach, this patient has been given a genuine second chance at life.’
The successful outcome demonstrates how advanced trauma care, experienced surgeons and split-second adaptation can turn an almost-certain fatality into a recovery story.
(Various sources)