Surgeons Save 12-Year-Old Boy's Life After Wooden Fragment Lodges in Chest

A young boy in Madikeri had a terrifying accident while playing outside when a dry coconut frond fell from a tree, piercing his neck and lodging into his chest. Along with the wooden fragment, a part of the chain he was wearing also got pulled inside. The boy was rushed to Mangaluru’s Wenlock Hospital, where doctors successfully performed a complex surgery to remove the object.

How the Incident Unfolded?

Kamal Hussain, a 12-year-old boy originally from Assam, is the son of laborers working in Madikeri. On the evening of February 8, while his parents were occupied with work at a plantation, Kamal was playing nearby when a dry coconut frond suddenly broke off and fell on him. A sharp section of the frond pierced through his neck and extended into his chest. Additionally, his chain got caught in the frond and was pulled in along with it.

Initially, he was taken to a government hospital in Madikeri, but due to the severity of his condition, doctors advised transferring him to Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru for advanced treatment.

The incident occurred at around 7:30 PM, and by 12:15 AM, Kamal arrived at Wenlock Hospital. A team of surgeons, led by Dr. Suresh Pai, immediately took him into emergency surgery, which lasted from 1:30 AM to 3:30 AM.

A Rare and Delicate Surgery:

Dr. Suresh Pai, who led the procedure, explained to Udayavani that the coconut frond had pierced through the boy’s neck and entered his chest. Fortunately, major organs remained unharmed, and there was no excessive bleeding. Key structures such as blood vessels, nerves, the lungs, and the heart were unaffected. The surgical team successfully extracted the foreign object without complications. Kamal is now in recovery but will require a few weeks of rest before resuming normal activities.

Family’s Gratitude for the Timely Treatment:

Kamal's cousin, Tasar Ali, recounted the anguish he had endured during those crucial moments after the accident. “It's been three years since we moved to Madikeri. We quickly moved him to the hospital from there using the vehicle of our landlord. Subsequently, we moved him to Mangaluru by an ambulance. The doctors reacted very promptly and gave the best care.”

Superintendent of Wenlock Hospital, Dr. Shivaprakash D.S. said, “Time was crucial in this complex and critical operation. Right from his arrival, our Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) team under the Super Specialty division sprang into action,” he stated.

Successful Operation and Positive Recovery:

The CTVS team at Wenlock Hospital carried out the delicate procedure of extracting the huge wooden fragment from Kamal's chest. According to Dr. Shivaprakash, the presence of a part of the boy's chain with the wooden piece made the surgery even more complex.

The operation, carried out under the able guidance of Dr. Suresh Pai, lasted two hours. The surgery was a success. Post-surgery, Kamal is doing well, responding to treatment and speaking fluently. Doctors are optimistic that he will recover completely in a couple of weeks.

Dr. Shivaprakash thanked the whole surgical team, including the anesthetists and the staff of the operating room, for their teamwork and dedication in saving the young boy's life.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Sai Sindhuja K/MSM)