The patient, Suleiman Hassan, a 12-year-old Palestinian hailing from the West Bank, experienced an extremely rare condition called internal decapitation, where the skull becomes detached from the upper vertebrae of the spine. The medical professionals involved in the case explained that his head was perilously close to being completely separated from the base of his neck. The operation, led by an expert orthopedic specialist, required several hours to complete.
From The New York Post:
Dr. Ohad Einav, the orthopedic specialist who led the operation, said the procedure took several hours and required the doctors to use “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,” Einav said, adding that the team “fought for the boy’s life.”
Einav and his team said that Hassan has a projected survival rate of only 50%, and his recovery is nothing short of a miracle, according to i24 News.
The operation occurred in June, but doctors waited a month to announce the results.
The hospital recently discharged Hassan with a cervical splint and 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,” Einav said.
Undoubtedly, this medical feat is truly extraordinary.
The skill and expertise demonstrated by the doctors not only saved the young boy's life but also preserved his normal brain function and essential motor skills, which is truly remarkable.
