How KGMU surgeons saved the life & eyesight of auto driver who had a 6 cm glass shard tucked in his brain

His family says those hospitals focused on his throat wound; by the time he reached KGMU he had spent around Rs 3.5 lakh. Scans at KGMU on August 20 revealed a piece of broken glass – roughly 6 cm – that had entered through his right eye, pierced the protective membranes and reached deep into the brain.

A joint team from KGMU’s neurosurgery, anaesthesia and ophthalmology departments operated on Ramu on August 22.

Neurosurgeon Dr Ankur Bajaj, who led the procedure, told The Indian Express, “The patient had come to the Ophthalmology Department of KGMU first where his scanning was done and later brought to the Neurosurgery (section) on August 20. He had a swollen eye since the accident and he was complaining of severe pain when he was admitted to other hospitals. He was about to be discharged from a hospital in Lucknow after his trachea treatment, but was scanned after his complaint about pain in his eye.”

“We got a detailed investigation done after he came to us. The scannings showed worrying images. About a 6 cm piece of broken glass had pierced through the patient’s eye, crossed the protective membrane, and penetrated deep into the brain,” Dr Bajaj said.

Dr Bajaj said the case posed exceptional challenges: surgeons had to preserve the eye and vision, remove the large shard and any hidden fragments, protect vital brain tissue while extracting the foreign body, and prevent a cerebrospinal fluid leak because the injury crossed the sinuses and dural membrane. The team performed both inlay and overlay dural repair to secure the site and guard against postoperative leakage.

“After surgery the patient not only survived but has retained his eyesight — a rare and remarkable outcome,” Bajaj said.

Ramu, who is recovering in hospital but not yet discharged, recalled the accident. He said, to earn a living, he had purchased a second-hand autorickshaw. The vehicle’s front mirror was made of cheap, duplicate glass.

On August 3, Ramu said, he lost control over the steering and the autorickshaw hit a pole. Following which, the front mirror shattered and unlike usual safety glass which breaks into small pieces, the duplicate glass broke into large, sharp fragments. These glass pieces pierced his throat and also the right eye.

Family members initially took him to a local hospital which referred him to the adjoining Basti district and later to Gorakhpur, Ramu said.

Ramu said he stayed in a private hospital in Gorakhpur for a day from where he was sent to a private hospital in Lucknow. He was treated there for an injury in his throat, but the injury in eye was not attended to since he was not able to spend more money. He was then advised to go to KGMU.

Dr Bajaj urged caution to second-hand vehicle buyers, saying, “While buying second-hand vehicles, always check that the front mirror is made of genuine safety glass. Duplicate mirrors can be life-threatening. We also appeal to authorities and automobile manufacturers to take strict measures to prevent such hazards.”

The multidisciplinary surgical team included Dr Ankur Bajaj, Dr Mitrajeet and Dr Sahil from neurosurgery; Dr Gautam and Dr Priyanka from ophthalmology; and Dr Brijesh Pratap Singh from anaesthesia. The operation was carried out under the supervision of Prof. B.K. Ojha (Neurosurgery), Prof. Abhijeet Kaur (Ophthalmology) and Prof. Monica Kohli (Anaesthesia), and the case was monitored by KGMU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sonia Nityanand.

Hospital officials said Ramu remains under observation and will be discharged once stable, while rehabilitation and follow-up care are arranged to monitor his neurological and visual recovery.

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