A 27 year old woman from Uzbekistan got a new life in India. Her ovarian cancer had spread to the brain and a part of her skull was removed during surgery in Uzbekistan. This created a void in the head, which created abnormal pressure on the brain and led to many complications. During this time, after not getting treatment in his country, he was brought to Delhi and admitted to a private hospital. Medical tests revealed that he had swelling on the back of his head and neurological symptoms had worsened.

Doctors noticed that over time, brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid started emerging out of that empty space. This was a very rare and dangerous situation. Due to this, the woman started experiencing severe headache, eye problems, confusion, disorientation and swelling. She was neither able to live properly nor do daily tasks alone.

According to the news published in Times of India Neurosurgeon Dr. Anurag Saxena who led the treatment said that this was very unusual. Usually, brain herniation happens inwards, like in a stroke, but here, due to the absence of skull bone, the brain was being pushed outwards.

Repeat surgery in a patient with metastatic brain disease was too risky. After imaging and planning, surgeons repositioned the exposed brain tissue, drained accumulated fluid, repaired the brain’s covering (meninges) and reconstructed the skull with a customized 3D-printed titanium implant. Which was made especially for his defect.

Dr. Saxena told that the surgery was done two weeks ago and now the patient is stable. Now she will not have any problem in everyday tasks, like combing her hair or washing her hair. Severe headache and other symptoms are gone. She can also get her hair colored.

The patient’s recovery was good, he was quickly made to walk and was discharged in a stable condition. Doctors said this case shows that personalized 3D-printed implants are changing outcomes in complex neurosurgery, even in patients with advanced cancer.