13-Year-Old Girl’s Scalp Reattached in Rare Surgery at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad

Faridabad: Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, has successfully performed a rare and complex scalp replantation surgery on a 13-year-old girl, restoring her appearance and giving her a new lease on life. This procedure showcases the hospital’s expertise in advanced reconstructive microsurgery.

The young patient from Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, experienced a traumatic total scalp avulsion after her hair got entangled in a generator fan at a local fair. Despite initial stabilization at a nearby hospital, the lack of microvascular surgical facilities prompted her family to seek specialized care. She was referred to Amrita Hospital, where an expert team took on the challenging case.

Dr. Sachin Gupta, Senior Consultant, Paediatric Neurosurgery, emphasized the urgency of the situation. “By the time the patient reached Amrita Hospital, nearly 10 hours had passed since the injury. The hospital’s expert team of reconstructive surgeons immediately took up the case despite the challenges of delayed intervention,” he said.

Leading the surgical effort was Dr. Mohit Sharma, HoD, Centre for Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, who explained the intricacies of the operation. “Total scalp avulsion is a devastating injury, and the success of replantation depends on timely intervention and advanced microvascular surgical skills. During the procedure, we carefully reconnected the blood vessels, nerves, and tissues to restore the scalp. The surgery lasted over eight hours, and the patient’s recovery so far has been excellent.”

Dr. Sharma credited the success to the hospital’s multidisciplinary team, adding, “Amrita’s team of experts in reconstructive microsurgery, anaesthesiology, paediatrics, and critical care made this surgery a success. The patient’s appearance has been restored to a near-normal level. She has already returned to school and is living a happy, normal life.”

Dr. Vasundhra Jain, Senior Consultant, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, highlighted the gravity of the injury. “The patient’s scalp was ripped off when her hair got caught in the generator’s fan. If the scalp replantation had not been successful, the patient would have required skin grafting to cover her bare skull bones, leaving her permanently disfigured. This would have affected her emotionally and socially, especially at such a young age,” she said.

Dr. Niti Gulati Batra, Senior Consultant and Assistant Professor, Department of Anaesthesiology, played a crucial role in maintaining the patient’s stable hemodynamic status during the surgery, ensuring its success.

Dr. Sanjeev Singh, Medical Director, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, praised the team’s efforts. “This successful scalp replantation surgery is a testament to the world-class infrastructure and medical expertise at Amrita Hospital. It highlights our commitment to transforming lives through advanced medical care,” he said.

The girl’s parents expressed their heartfelt gratitude. Her father said, “We were devastated when the accident happened and felt helpless seeing our daughter in such a condition. Coming to Amrita Hospital was the best decision we made. The doctors not only saved her life but also gave her a second chance at living a normal life.”