Ahmedabad’s Sola Civil Hospital Performs Complex Spine Surgery on 17-Year-Old Bedridden Patient

The Department of Orthopaedics and Spine Surgery at Sola Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad has successfully performed its first complex craniovertebral junction surgery on a 17-year-old boy from Rajasthan who had been bedridden for four months due to severe neurological complications.

The patient, from Barmer district, had suffered progressive weakness in all four limbs for over a year. His condition deteriorated to the point that he was unable to get out of bed for the past four months.

Rare Spinal Condition Caused Severe Neurological Complications

Detailed medical examinations revealed basilar invagination, a condition in which abnormal bone positioning at the base of the skull compresses the upper spinal cord and brainstem.

The craniovertebral junction connects the skull to the upper spine and contains vital nerve pathways and blood vessels. Surgery in this region carries significant risks because of its proximity to these critical structures.

Following a detailed neurological assessment, the medical team decided to perform occipitocervical fixation to stabilise the junction between the skull and cervical spine.

Advanced Monitoring Used During Surgery

Given the complexity of the procedure, surgeons used intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) to continuously monitor spinal cord function during the operation.

The technology helps surgical teams track neurological signals and identify potential changes in spinal cord function while operating near sensitive neural structures.

The successful procedure marks the first time Sola Civil Hospital has performed this high-risk craniovertebral junction surgery, offering hope for the young patient’s recovery after months of being bedridden.