GURUGRAM: A 34-year-old construction worker is recovering after doctors at a private hospital successfully removed a steel rod that entered the back of his head and exited through his neck, narrowly missing major blood vessels, the spinal cord and critical areas of the brain.
The patient was brought to the emergency department of Artemis Hospital last week. Although emergency responders had shortened the rod at the accident site, the remaining portion embedded in his body was still about 2.5 feet long, severely restricting his movement.
A multidisciplinary medical team was formed, led by Dr Shashidhar TB, Head of the ENT Department, along with Dr Aseem Srivastava (CTVS), Dr Manan and anaesthetist Dr Jude. To accurately assess the rod’s path, doctors conducted a CT scan. Since the protruding metal prevented standard positioning, the patient’s posture was modified to enable imaging inside the CT gantry.
The scan helped map the rod’s trajectory and its proximity to vital structures, allowing the team to plan the surgery in detail.
Because of the rod’s angle and the risk of movement, anaesthesia was administered with the patient in a sitting position — an unusual but necessary step. Surgery was then performed with the patient in a semi-reclined posture to maintain stability and minimise the risk of further injury.
“The situation required careful planning and precision at every step. Our priority was to ensure the safest possible outcome given the extraordinary nature of the injury,” Dr Shashidhar said.
Doctors confirmed that the rod had passed extremely close to the carotid arteries, jugular veins and spinal cord. The team first secured the major blood vessels to prevent catastrophic bleeding, then carefully removed the rod along its original path and repaired the damaged tissues.
The patient emerged from surgery without any neurological deficits.
“The rod missed every structure that could have caused instant death or permanent disability. Thanks to timely intervention, the patient has been given a second chance at life,” Dr Shashidhar added.
Doctors believe the injury occurred after the man fell at a construction site, causing the rod to pierce his neck at an angle. The incident highlights the critical importance of wearing proper safety gear at all work sites.
