7-year-old boy from India got an approximately 3-inch nail lodged in his brain after falling on the nail while playing
The iron nail pierced his neck and went up to his brain, “barely missing a blood vessel,” according to medical professionals at King George’s Medical University in Lucknow
The surgery to remove the nail lasted four hours, as doctors had to avoid damaging the brain and “sensitive nerves between the mouth and the brain”
A young boy in India is lucky to be alive after a freak accident that caused an approximately 3-inch nail to pierce his brain.
The 7-year-old boy from Balrampur district, whose identity has been kept confidential, was rushed to King George’s Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow on May 16 for emergency surgery to remove a 2.27-inch nail lodged deep in his brain, according to reports from India Today, ETV Bharat, and The Hindustan Times.
According to India Today, the injury occurred when the boy accidentally fell while playing, landing on the iron nail that pierced through his neck and into his brain. He was first treated at a nearby private hospital before being transferred to KGMU for specialized care.
King George’s Medical University has not yet responded to requests for further details from PEOPLE.
MRI scans released by KGMU and shared with local media reveal the nail’s alarming trajectory — starting at the lower part of the boy’s neck and jaw, extending upward into his skull.
The MRI scans revealed just how dangerously close the nail came to piercing the boy’s brain, highlighting the potentially fatal nature of the injury if it had struck a different area or severed a blood vessel, according to medical experts at King George’s Medical University (KGMU).
“It was during our investigation that we discovered the nail had traveled from the neck to the brain, narrowly missing a major blood vessel,” explained Dr. Sandip Tiwari, as reported by ETV Bharat. “We consulted specialists from the NeuroSurgery and ENT departments before deciding to undertake this highly complex surgery.”
Professor Samir Misra, senior faculty member of KGMU’s trauma surgery department, told The Hindustan Times the delicate operation lasted four hours. “Any error could have been fatal. The nail had to be carefully removed while avoiding damage to the brain and the sensitive nerves connecting the mouth and brain,” he said.
Dr. Tiwari confirmed to ETV Bharat that the surgery was a success. The boy was moved to KGMU’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, where he continues to recover under close medical supervision. According to The Hindustan Times, doctors expect him to be discharged once his condition stabilizes.
Highlighting the significance of the case, the Medical Superintendent of KGMU told India Today that the surgery would be documented as an important medical achievement. A detailed report is set to be published in an international medical journal to provide valuable insights for healthcare professionals worldwide.