Miracle as surgeons re-attach boy's 'decapitated' head after horror car crash

14 July 2023 , 11:51

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Hadassah Ein Karem Hospital in Jerusalem, Israel (Image: Newsflash)

A young boy has miraculously had his head re-attached during an "extremely rare" surgery following a horror crash.

Suleiman Hassan, 12, suffered an internal decapitation, which saw his skull separated from the top vertebrae of his spine. He was rushed to Hadassah Medical Centre in Jerusalem, Israel, after he was hit by a car whilst riding his bike.

Surgeons revealed his head was “almost completely detached from the base of his neck" after the terrifying incident. Hassan underwent surgery which lasted hours in the trauma unit in June.

Dr. Ohad Einav, who led the operation, said his team had to use “new plates and fixations in the damaged area.”

“Our ability to save the child was thanks to our knowledge and the most innovative technology in the operating room,” he added.

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Suleiman Hassan only had a 50% chance of survival (@hadassah_medical_center/Newsflash)

Einav and his team "fought for the boy’s life" and said Hassan had a mere projected survival rate of 50%, reports New York Post.

Doctors said they will continue to monitor Hassan's condition following his recent release with a cervical splint.

Einav added: “The fact that such a child has no neurological deficits or sensory or motor dysfunction and that he is functioning normally and walking without an aid after such a long process is no small thing."

Dr. Marc Siegel, who is a Clinical Professor at NYU of Medicine, explained that the surgery was only possible because his key blood vessels stayed intact.

“The key is preserving blood flow to the brain,” he said. “It sounds like – from the story – that the major blood vessels were likely not severed and that this involved an orthopaedic rebuilding – probably using rods and reattaching ligaments and possibly bone grafts and implants.”

Surgeons said they 'fought' for his life (Getty Images)

Suleiman's father stayed by his son for the entire recovery and thanked the surgeons for saving his son's life.

"I will thank you all my life for saving my dear only son. Bless you all," he said.

"Thanks to you, he regained his life even when the odds were low and the danger was obvious.

"What saved him were professionalism, technology and quick decision-making by the trauma and orthopaedics team. All I can say is a big thank you."

Monica Charsley