Chennai: The neurosurgery team at Government Kilpauk Medical College of Chennai has achieved a significant milestone by performing 3D technology based advanced neuroplastic surgery for the first time in a Tamil Nadu government hospital, according to a press release. A 29-year-old male patient sustained a severe traumatic brain injury following a fall. The patient was admitted in a comatose condition in Government Kilpauk Medical College, with a large life-threatening blood clot compromising the blood supply to his brain. The team of doctors under Prof Dr Kodeeswaran, Head of the Department of Neurosurgery, Government Kilpauk Medical College, performed an emergency surgery saving the patient.
The complex surgery involved removing a part of the skull and removing the blood clot in his brain. He was managed post-operatively in the Neurosurgical ICU with round-the-clock monitoring by a team of anesthetists under the supervision of Prof Dr Chandrasekaran A, Department of Anesthesiology, and staff. The patient improved tremendously and was able to talk, walk, and perform his regular activities independently and is back to his usual self. Initially, he had some swelling at his operative site. The swelling gradually decreased and the skull defect stabilised over time.
In the past, such patients had to continue to live with persistent skull defects. Later, multiple methods were devised, including bone cement and titanium mesh, was created to cover the defect, but they had poor safety and cosmetic outcome. Now, with advancements in technology state-of-the-art 3-D printed titanium skull has been developed, which are currently being done only in private hospitals.
Also read: Bariatric surgery may reverse diabetes complications for people with obesity: Study
The Department of Neurosurgery, Government of Kilpauk Medical College under Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS), created a personalised 3-D printed titanium skull in the exact shape of the patient’s skull, utilising advanced computed tomography imaging with less than 1mm sectioning capability with the help of Prof Dr Devi Meenal, Department of Radiology.
The 3-D printed Titanium cranioplasty, which was performed under the guidance of Prof Dr K Narayanasamy, MD, DM, Dean, Govt Kilpauk Medical College, was successfully completed within three hours and now after three weeks after surgery, he is back to normal with almost no external evidence of surgery ever being done.
"This revolutionary surgery was performed completely free of cost to the patient, thanks to Tamil Nadu’s CMCHIS scheme provided by Chief Minister Stalin. Without this scheme, such surgery would have cost between Rs 3 to Rs 5 lakhs in a private hospital. Two more similar patients have been treated by the same team and the fourth similar patient is at present admitted for 3D Neuroplastic surgery," stated the release.
This breakthrough surgery highlights the incredible advancements in medical technology and expertise available in government hospitals. The neurosurgery team at Govt Kilpauk Medical College has set a new standard in the field of neuroplastic surgery, offering hope and healing to patients, who may not have had access to such treatments in the past, the release said.
