Thursday, 04 April 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Rishikesh has claimed that the medical facility has emerged as the first institute in India to introduce Spring Assisted Cranioplasty Surgery for treating Craniosynostosis. This surgery procedure is claimed to be a significant stride towards advanced medical interventions for infants suffering from this congenital condition.
The institute claimed to have given a new shape to the head of a one-and-a-half-month-old baby through this technique. The plastic and reconstructive department of the institute has achieved this miracle by teamwork with the neurosurgery, anaesthesia and paediatrics departments of AIIMS Rishikesh.
Speaking of the institute’s latest surgical feat, the operating surgeon Dr Debarati Chattopadhyay of the burn and plastic surgery department said that Craniosynostosis- a congenital condition affecting 1 in 2000 children- is characterised by premature fusion of skull sutures and poses challenges to proper brain and skull development in infants. “Traditionally, open cranial vault remodelling was the standard surgical intervention. However, the innovative approach of Spring Assisted Cranioplasty heralds a new era in the treatment of this condition,” she said and added that Spring Assisted Cranioplasty involves the strategic placement of specialised springs within the fused skull sutures. These springs are made by the surgery team using stainless steel wires and placed after removing a strip of abnormally fused suture line. This gradually expands the skull over time, allowing for normal brain growth and development.
The neurosurgeon of the team and head of the neurosurgery department of the institute Dr Rajnish Kumar Arora stated that this is a new and effective technique of skull expansion in craniosynostosis children.
The executive director of the institute, Dr Meenu Singh said that this collaborative effort ensures comprehensive care, from pre-operative evaluation to post-operative management, fostering a holistic approach to patient treatment. She further said that by sharing their expertise and experience, the institute aims to raise awareness about this rare condition and its innovative treatment options, ultimately benefiting patients nationwide.
