In a major medical breakthrough, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jammu has successfully carried out a complex reconstructive neurosurgery on a 15-year-old girl suffering from a rare and aggressive bone tumour affecting her forehead and eye socket.
Rare Tumour Caused Vision Loss and Facial Deformity
The patient, a teenager from Pathankot, was diagnosed with an aneurysmal bone cyst—a benign yet aggressive tumour. The condition led to noticeable facial deformity and gradual vision loss, eventually forcing her to discontinue her schooling.
Doctors revealed that the case was particularly challenging because the tumour had extended into the brain and was partially supplied by blood vessels from healthy brain tissue.
High-Risk Surgery Planned Over Weeks
The intricate surgery was performed after weeks of detailed planning by neurosurgeons Dr Kanav Gupta and Dr Shaurya Darbari, assistant professors in the Department of Neurosurgery.
They were supported by an anaesthesia team led by Dr Raksha Kundal and Dr Aleesha.
Advanced Technology Ensured Surgical Precision
Surgeons used advanced intraoperative navigation technology to accurately locate and remove the deep extensions of the tumour around the eye socket.
A cell-saver system was also deployed to collect and reinfuse the patient’s own blood during surgery, significantly reducing the need for external blood transfusions.
Reconstruction with Titanium Graft and Bone Putty
After complete removal of the tumour, doctors reconstructed the damaged skull area using a titanium graft.
The eyebrow region—critical for facial appearance—was meticulously rebuilt using a quick-setting polymer bone putty, carefully moulded during surgery to match the natural contour of the opposite side.
Patient Recovers, Set for Discharge
The girl has shown excellent recovery and is now ready for discharge. Doctors confirmed that her facial symmetry has been restored and her vision has significantly improved, marking a life-changing outcome for her and her family.
AIIMS Jammu Emerging as Advanced Neurosurgery Hub
Dr Shaurya Darbari, who is also the officiating head of the neurosurgery department, highlighted that the institute has performed over 120 neurosurgeries within just seven months of its establishment. Patients from Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh are increasingly turning to the institute for advanced care.
Executive Director and CEO Prof D N Sharma stated that such achievements demonstrate how complex brain and spinal surgeries—once requiring travel to institutions like AIIMS New Delhi or PGIMER Chandigarh—are now accessible locally in Jammu, significantly improving healthcare access in the region.
