A remarkable recovery has been made by a 13-year-old girl whose scalp was completely torn off when her long hair became entangled in a generator fan at a local fair in Aligarh in October 2022. Following an intricate and rare scalp replantation surgery at Amrita Hospital in Faridabad, she has successfully regained her health.
Dr. Mohit Sharma, Head of the Centre for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Amrita Hospital, explained that the girl’s scalp was entirely detached after the horrific accident. After receiving initial stabilisation at a nearby facility, she was referred to Amrita Hospital due to the absence of specialized microvascular surgical expertise in the area.
Dr. Sharma, who led the surgery, described the injury as one of the most devastating: “Total scalp avulsion is a catastrophic injury. The success of the replantation depends on timely intervention and the expertise in advanced microvascular surgery.”
The 8.5-hour procedure involved reconnecting blood vessels, nerves, and tissues to restore the scalp. “The patient’s hemodynamic stability throughout the procedure was critical for success, and her recovery has been outstanding,” he added.
The complexity of the surgery highlighted the cutting-edge capabilities of reconstructive microsurgery, with collaboration from multiple departments, including anesthesiology, pediatrics, and critical care. Dr. Sachin Gupta, senior consultant in pediatric neurosurgery, noted that despite a 10-hour delay before the surgery, the replantation was successful, albeit with several challenges due to the delayed intervention.
Dr. Sanjeev Singh, Medical Director at Amrita Hospital, provided an update on the girl’s recovery, stating, “The day after her surgery, she was moved to the ICU, where she continued her recovery. Over the following year, she underwent three additional surgeries. Today, she is in excellent health, her hair has fully grown back, and she has returned to school.” He further added, “Her appearance has been restored to near-normal levels.”
