February 24, 2007	Saturday	Safar 6, 1428

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: A private hospital on Thursday announced the “first ever successful surgery of a split spine” in the country that lasted for about seven hours.

Ahmed, three-and-half year old, was operated for double diastomyelia (split cord malformation) and scoliosis (curved spine) by a New York based neurosurgeon Dr Khalid Sethi, who was assisted by Dr Inayatullah Khan.

The boy was born with a meningocele on his back and had been treated for his condition. However, the problem progressed with the passage of time and his backbone started bending and one of his legs stopped functioning.

The doctors found out that a bony spur was making its way out of the spine resulting in its bifurcation in that region. It was feared that the child could have lost the other leg and urinary function if surgery was not performed immediately. The surgeons drilled the bony spur and fixed screws, rods and hooks on either side of the spine to straighten it.

Doctors say the child is recovering fast. They are even expecting his dysfunctional leg to recover in view of his age. But, the recovery process would be very long spanning over years. The child would require further surgery as he grows. The doctors say the operation in future wouldn’t be as complicated as this one.