Bhubaneswar, Feb 12: Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar has successfully treated a rare and complex congenital spinal condition in a three-year-old boy from Jaleswar, Balasore district, giving the child a new lease on life and preventing the risk of permanent neurological disability.
The child was diagnosed with spinal lipomyelomeningocele, a rare closed neural tube defect that affects only 3–6 per 100,000 births. The condition involves a fatty mass (lipoma) extending through a defect in the spine and attaching to the spinal cord, leading to a tethered cord. If left untreated, it can cause progressive nerve damage, limb weakness, loss of sensation, and bladder and bowel dysfunction as the child grows.
Since birth, the child experienced difficulty passing urine and stools. Over time, his left leg became visibly thin and weak—clear signs of worsening neurological involvement. Despite early symptoms, the family had earlier been advised to delay surgery until the age of three, contrary to standard medical recommendations that suggest intervention as early as three months to prevent irreversible damage. The delay significantly increased surgical complexity and the risk of lifelong paralysis.
Seeking advanced care, the parents approached Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, where the child came under the care of Dr. Ritesh Bhoot, Consultant Neurosurgeon. Following detailed investigations, including MRI and X-rays to assess spinal tethering and nerve involvement, the medical team planned a highly delicate surgical intervention.
During the procedure, Dr. Bhoot and his team made a precise incision over the swelling on the child’s back. Using advanced neuromonitoring and microsurgical techniques, they meticulously separated the nerve roots from the fatty mass, excised the lipoma, and successfully released the tethered spinal cord. The surgery demanded exceptional precision, cutting-edge infrastructure, and seamless multidisciplinary coordination.
The child is currently recovering well and undergoing rehabilitation to improve limb strength and bladder control. Doctors remain optimistic about his neurological recovery and overall quality of life.
“Spinal lipomyelomeningocele is a rare but serious condition. Early diagnosis and timely surgical intervention are critical to prevent permanent neurological damage. In this case, the delay made the surgery more challenging, but with careful planning and advanced neuromonitoring, we were able to achieve a positive outcome,”
Dr. Ritesh Bhoot, Consultant Neurosurgeon, Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar.
“Cases like these highlight the importance of specialised paediatric neurosurgical care and early medical intervention. Our goal is not just treatment, but giving children the chance to live a normal, active life,” Dr. Bhoot added.
Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar continues to strengthen its commitment to delivering advanced neurosurgical care, even for the rarest and most complex conditions, ensuring that children and families across Odisha have access to timely, life-changing treatment.