Bedridden woman walks again after rare spinal cord tumour surgery at AIIMS Bhopal

Bhopal: Doctors at AIIMS Bhopal have successfully removed a rare intramedullary spinal cord tumour from a 40-year-old woman, restoring her mobility and vital functions.The patient, who was bedridden for months and lost control over bowel and bladder functions, underwent the complex surgery in the department of orthopaedics under Dr Pankaj Mishra. The operation, considered highly risky due to the rarity of the condition — seen in only about 1.1% of spinal schwannoma cases — was performed using advanced microsurgical techniques.The multidisciplinary team included Dr S Bhushanam (Anaesthesia) and Dr Vitthal Puri (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation), who ensured intraoperative stability and guided post-surgical recovery.The woman, once confined to bed, is now steadily moving towards normalcy and independence. The treatment was provided free of cost under Ayushman Bharat, eliminating much of the financial burden for the patient's family, an official said.Following the surgery, the patient showed rapid improvement, regaining strength and control over vital functions. AIIMS Bhopal's executive director Dr Madhabananda Kar and HoD Orthopaedics Dr Rehan-Ul-Haq commended the team for the achievement.