Complex surgery performed at city hospital to remove screwdriver from man’s skull

The neurosurgical team of Dr. Kamakshi Memorial Hospitals performed a complex emergency brain surgery on a 33-year-old man, who arrived with a portion of a screwdriver lodged in his skull following an assault.

According to a press release, the screwdriver had penetrated the right side of his brain. He showed signs of early neurological decline, though he was conscious upon admission. A CT scan revealed that the screwdriver had pierced a critical motor control region, responsible for the movement of the left side of his body. It was also close to major blood vessels that, if injured, could have resulted in catastrophic bleeding.

In a two-hour procedure, Rahul Srinivasan, the neurosurgeon who led the surgery, removed the screwdriver and accompanying bone fragments without injuring critical structures.

“Penetrating brain injuries pose severe risks — swelling, infection, delayed bleeding, seizures, and long-term neurological deficits,” he said.

Following the surgery, the patient was kept on ventilator support for two days to control brain swelling and stabilise vital functions.

Initially, he experienced weakness on the left side of his face, arm, and leg. After undergoing physiotherapy and neuro-rehabilitation, he is fully independent, the release said.