Delhi: Surgery helps 185kg man regain ability to walk

NEW DELHI: A 40-year-old man weighing 185kg regained his ability to walk and control his body functions after a surgery by doctors at Apollo Hospitals. The patient was diagnosed with severe lumbar canal stenosis, a condition that was compressing the nerves controlling his legs and bodily functions.
Doctors said the patient was initially admitted with a lower backache, bilateral lower limb radicular pain.He had been unable to walk for five days following a fall at home.
Diagnostic imaging revealed severe lumbar canal stenosis. Given the urgency of the situation and the patient's extreme weight, the medical team decided to perform an intricate spinal decompression and stabilisation surgery.
Dr Sudheer Kumar Tyagi, a senior consultant in the department of neurosurgery at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, and his team did a bilateral L2, L3, L4 pedicle screw fixation with L1, L2, L3, L4 & L5 laminectomy and decompression. The L1-L5 are lumbar bones of the spine.
“The surgery presented numerous challenges, including difficulties in patient positioning, surgical exposure and precise implant placement due to the patient's extreme obesity,” Dr Tyagi said.
Breaking down the surgery process further, he said that the complex procedure involved carefully inserting stabilising screws and rods into the spine and removing the pressure from the compressed nerves. The surgical team had to work at exceptional depths to reach the spine, using specialised long instruments to navigate through the extensive layers of tissue. The anaesthesia team faced hurdles in intubation, maintaining proper oxygenation and managing the high risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Post-operative care, particularly physiotherapy and mobilisation, required specialised equipment and techniques to accommodate the patient's size and ensure a safe recovery.
The patient is expected to be discharged soon and will continue with a specially designed rehabilitation plan to improve his mobility.
Dr Tyagi said: “This case represents a significant milestone in neurosurgical care. The patient's extreme obesity presented unprecedented challenges at every stage of the treatment, from the moment he was admitted, unable to walk and suffering from severe pain.”