Iraqi patient walks for the first time thanks to specialist surgeons 

Restoring the faith of millions of people in good medicare, Artemis Hospital, a leading multi-speciality hospital in Gurgaon, successfully removed a six-kg tumor involving four vertebral segments from a much-in-pain patient. Arising from the D10 vertebral body, the tumour compressed the lungs, liver and chest wall of the patient. It is said to be the largest known and reported spinal tumour till date.

Abdul Razzak, from Karvala, Iraq, was subject to a lot of humiliation in public places when he went out with his family. His spine tilted with the weight of the tumour and hampered not only his movement but also made him a social outcast.

He found it increasingly difficult to wear clothes of his size or even larger. Due to the size of the tumour he was incapacitated and could not even sit for too long.

His family had approached various hospitals for the operation but was refused treatment due to the complexity of the case. Even the doctors in Iraq refused to treat the patient, citing difficulty.

As per Dr Hitesh Garg, Head, Ortho Spine Surgery, Artemis Hospitals, “It was a challenging case, specially looking at the size of tumour and its location. The patient’s spine was tilted to one side due to the tumour’s weight. During surgery we had to protect the nerves as well as lung and large blood vessels around it.”

Dr Himanshu Tyagi, consultant, ortho spine surgery, said, “Our major goal was to remove the tumour without damaging the surrounding tissues. We are glad that we could take out the entire tumour without any complication. The joy of watching the patient eat and walk next day cannot be explained in words.”

Post an eight-hour surgery at Artemis Hospital, the tumour has been removed successfully and the patient is doing perfectly well. He started walking the very next day after the surgery. At present, all the vital organs of the patient are in perfect condition. He was discharged in good health recently.