He has now got back to work after the department of neuro and spine surgery at the SPS Apollo Hospital successfully performed a rare spine surgery to save him. Babu Lal said he could perform small tasks for the time being. The incident took place around 15 days ago and left his back badly injured.

After the fall, he fractured his odontoid process (a small, toothlike, upward projection from the second vertebra of the neck around which the first vertebra rotates). This had resulted in the separation of the skull and spine.

This was a very serious injury and Babu Lal was at a great risk of getting a severe spinal cord damage, which could have resulted in complete paralysis below his neck.

Babu Lal’s spine was immediately stabilised and he was operated by a team led by Dr Deepinder Singh, senior consultant, neuro and spine surgeon at SPS Apollo Hospital. In the six-hour-long surgery, a screw was placed across the patient’s topmost vertebrae (atlas) and axis under real time image guidance. Thereafter, the base of his head was fixed to his upper cervical vertebrae using special titanium wires.

Giving details about the surgery, Dr Deepinder said it is a very difficult and technically demanding surgery and even a small mistake could have left the patient permanently paralysed below the neck or even death of the patient.

“This is because the screw passes very near the spinal cord and also vertebral artery and even a small error in screw placement would have done irreparable damage to these critical structures. After the operation, the patient showed quick recovery and was discharged from the hospital. Now, the patient has joined his normal duties.”