In a stunning medical breakthrough, doctors at Pune’s renowned Sancheti Hospital have performed a spine reconstruction surgery unlike any other in India — using a vascular stent to rebuild the shattered spine of a 50-year-old woman who was on the brink of paralysis.
The patient, hailing from Bareilly, arrived at the hospital in unbearable pain, unable to walk, with her spine crumbling due to a rare spinal tumour called cavernous hemangioma. This aggressive tumour had silently hollowed out her lower spine, much like termites eating away the wooden beams of a house, leading to a dangerous collapse in the lumbosacral region — the area connecting the spine to the pelvis.
“This was not just a fracture. It was a full-blown biomechanical emergency,” said Dr. Shailesh Hadgaonkar, Chief Spine Surgeon at Sancheti. “Her spinal foundation was gone — traditional methods like rods or bone cement just wouldn’t cut it.”
Faced with a critical decision, the team turned to an unconventional solution: a spinal stent — a spring-like metal mesh usually used to open blood vessels. In an unprecedented move, surgeons expanded the stent within the destroyed vertebrae, restoring structure and stability to her collapsed spine.
“This is possibly the first-ever case in India where a stent was used to reconstruct the spine following a tumour-induced collapse at the lumbosacral junction,” Dr. Hadgaonkar noted. “It’s like rebuilding the foundation of a skyscraper — complex, delicate, and absolutely crucial.”
This innovative approach drew inspiration from earlier techniques like vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, but pushed the boundaries of spine surgery to a new level. The patient, who feared a future in a wheelchair, is now walking again — pain reduced, nerves recovering, and life back on track just six months post-surgery.
Why This Matters:
Unprecedented use of spinal stent for tumour-related spine collapse
Restored mobility in a patient facing permanent disability
Showcases India’s advancing spine surgery expertise
“This case proves that with out-of-the-box thinking and medical innovation, even the most complex challenges can be conquered,” said Dr. Hadgaonkar.
The success has not only given a new lease of life to the patient but has also opened the doors for treating future spinal collapse cases that were once considered untreatable.
