Dr. Ohad Einav and Dr. Ziv Asa with Suleiman Hassan (Photo: Hadassah Medical Center)
Doctors from Israel’s Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem successfully reattached the head of a twelve-year-old Palestinian boy who was said to have suffered “internal decapitation.”
Suleiman Hassan, a resident of the Palestinian Territories in the Jordan valley area suffered the injuries when, while riding his bicycle he was hit by a car. Hassan was then rushed to Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem where his life was saved.
Dr. Ziv Asa and Dr. Ohad Einav performed the lifesaving surgery.
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Also known as atlanto-occipital dislocation or orthopedic decapitation, internal decapitation describes ligamentous separation of the spinal column from the skull base. While it is possible to survive this type of injury, 70% of cases result in immediate death.
Dr. Ohad Einav, a specialist from the orthopedic department at Hadassah Ein Kerem, “The most significant and main injury suffered by the boy was a fracture in the connection between the head and neck, along with a tear of all the ligaments. Additionally, there was a superficial injury to the abdomen. Due to the serious injury, the head almost completely detached from the base of the neck.”
“After a thorough examination of his condition, we decided to perform surgery during which we reconnected the skull to the spine,” he explained.
“We fought for the boy’s life, a large operating room team, including operating room nurses and anesthesiologists, followed by the intensive care and surgical department team,” added Einav. “This is a rare and unusual case with a 50% chance of mortality. The procedure itself is very complicated and took several hours, while in the operating room we used new plates and fixations in the damaged area. It was precisely because of such cases that I chose to specialize in trauma. Our ability to save the child thanks to the most innovative knowledge and technology in the operating room is immensely satisfying. That’s the goal of all of us in the trauma complex.”
“Fortunately, the operation was a great success and we saved the boy’s life. He was discharged home with a cervical splint and, of course, under the dedicated medical care and monitoring of the hospital staff and myself.”
Suleiman’s father remained by his son during the entire time of his treatment at Hadassah Medical center. He was grateful to the doctors saying, “I will thank you all my life for saving my dear only son. Bless you all, thanks to you he regained his life even when the odds were low and the danger was obvious. What saved him were professionalism, technology, and quick decision-making by the trauma and orthopedics team. All I can say is a big thank you.”
