Patna Hospital Performs Life-Saving Polytrauma Surgery Within Critical 24-Hour Window
In a remarkable medical achievement, doctors at Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) in Patna successfully performed a rare polytrauma surgery on a 25-year-old road accident victim within 24 hours of the traumatic incident. The patient, who sustained serious head, spine, and hip injuries, was given a new lease on life through this coordinated surgical effort.
Complex Surgical Procedure Executed with Precision
Surgeons at IGIMS utilized the specialized Kocher–Langenbeck approach to address multiple fractures simultaneously. The comprehensive procedure involved reducing and fixing the femoral head fracture using Herbert screws, stabilizing the posterior wall with an acetabular plate, and completing femoral shaft interlocking nailing—all in a single surgical session.
Sharing details about this exceptional case on Thursday, IGIMS medical superintendent Dr. Manish Mandal emphasized that this represented a rare polytrauma situation where coordinated planning across multiple departments proved crucial. "The team operated within the critical window that was essential for saving the young man's life," Dr. Mandal stated.
Emergency Response and Multidisciplinary Team Effort
The injured man arrived at the emergency department in critical condition on Wednesday, where he received immediate resuscitation and stabilization following primary investigations. According to Dr. Raj Bhadur Singh, in-charge of trauma and emergency services, the challenging surgery was conducted by an emergency orthopedic team comprising Dr. Anand Shanker, Dr. Ashutosh Kumar, Dr. Rakesh Kumar, and Dr. Rishab Kumar, with continuous support from emergency medicine and anesthesia teams throughout the procedure.
Dr. Anand explained that the patient presented with multiple complex fractures, including:
- Pipkin type V femoral head fracture
- Posterior wall acetabular fracture
- Floating hip fracture
- Femoral shaft fracture
"Given the complexity of these injuries, timely surgical management within 24 hours was absolutely crucial to saving his life and preserving organ function," Dr. Anand emphasized.
Dr. Ashutosh added that the Kocher–Langenbeck approach was determined to be the most suitable surgical option for addressing this particular combination of injuries effectively.
Significance of Timely Intervention in Trauma Cases
This case highlights the importance of rapid response and multidisciplinary coordination in trauma care. The successful outcome demonstrates how advanced surgical techniques, when applied within the golden hour window, can dramatically improve survival rates and recovery prospects for patients with multiple severe injuries.
The medical team's ability to execute such a complex procedure within 24 hours of the accident represents a significant advancement in trauma management capabilities at the Patna-based institution, potentially setting a new standard for emergency orthopedic care in similar polytrauma cases.
