



Surgeons in Israel have successfully performed a complex operation on a 12-year-old Palestinian boy, Suleiman Hassan, following a severe accident.
The Jerusalem-based hospital reported the news this week.
Hassan, from the West Bank, suffered an internal decapitation when his skull separated from the top vertebra of his spine during a bike accident.
The medical term for this condition is bilateral atlanto occipital joint dislocation.
Following the accident, Hassan was quickly taken to Hadassah Medical Center.
The doctors there stated his head was nearly separated from his neck. Immediate surgery in the trauma unit was required.
Dr. Ohad Einav led the operation, which spanned several hours and necessitated the use of new plates and fixations.
Einav commended the team’s expertise and the advanced technology available in the operating room, which he said saved the boy’s life.
Hassan’s survival rate is projected at only 50%, according to i24 News. His continued recovery has been termed remarkable by the medical team.
The surgery was performed in June, but doctors waited until now to announce the results. Hassan was recently discharged with a cervical splint, and doctors will continue monitoring his progress.
Hassan’s recovery, particularly his ability to walk unaided and lack of neurological, sensory, or motor deficits, has been praised by Einav.
Throughout the recovery process, Hassan’s father stayed by his son’s bedside and expressed gratitude to the medical staff.
Hassan’s survival is attributed to the team’s quick decisions and use of technology, according to Israel’s TPS news agency.
Dr. Marc Siegel, a Clinical Professor of Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and Fox News contributor, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the need to preserve blood flow to the brain during the surgery.
Einav emphasized the rarity and complexity of the procedure, particularly in children and teens. The surgery, he stated, requires substantial knowledge and experience.