Successful Complex Surgery for Child Suffering from Severe Neck Scar Contracture
* A new beginning after a long wait, financial struggle, and treatment
Lucknow, March 17, 2026: Doctors at Medanta Lucknow successfully performed a complex surgery on a young child suffering from a severe scar contracture at the back of the neck. After treatment, the child can now hold his head straight and look forward normally.
Some time ago, the child’s parents brought him to the hospital. At first glance, he appeared normal, but he was constantly looking upward and was unable to look directly into anyone’s eyes. The child repeatedly tried to look at his parents but failed because he could not bend his neck forward at all
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Dr. Nikhil Puri, Director of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery at Medanta Hospital, along with Dr. Ashish Ukey, Senior Consultant in Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, helped the child overcome this difficult condition.
Dr. Nikhil Puri explained that after examining the child, it was found that a severe and extensive scar contracture had formed at the back of his neck. This condition developed due to an infection in the upper part of his back a few months earlier. The infection turned into a large wound, and it was treated at a local hospital without surgery. Although the wound healed, the healing process formed a rigid scar that pulled the neck backward. As a result, the child was unable to bend his neck forward.
Planning the treatment was also not easy because the child was malnourished and not immediately fit for surgery. Therefore, improving his health first was essential. The treatment plan involved gradually releasing the contracture. During surgery, there was also a possibility that opening the contracture could expose the underlying bone, which would make wound healing difficult. There were also potential challenges such as difficulty inserting the breathing tube, the possible need for ventilator support after surgery, and in some situations, the possibility of a tracheostomy.
Dr. Nikhil Puri said that on the day of surgery, with the support of the medical team, the contracture was successfully released, and a tracheostomy was not required. The surgery was then performed, during which the tightened skin around the neck was loosened. Where the skin was insufficient, nearby skin was shifted to cover the area, and in some places, skin from another part of the body was grafted. During the procedure, special care was taken to ensure that the underlying bone was not damaged. Notably, there was minimal blood loss during the operation, and the child did not require a blood transfusion.
After the operation, the child was kept in the ICU for monitoring. His condition gradually stabilized. Later, he was shifted to the ward, and over time his condition became normal. About a month later, he was discharged from the hospital. At the time of discharge, the relief and confidence on the faces of both the child and his parents were clearly visible. The difference was evident—his head was no longer pulled backward as before, and he could now look straight ahead normally.