Doctors remove large coconut branch that impaled 12-year-old’s chest

Sagaya Fernando

13 February 2025

 

A team of cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons at Wenlock District Hospital in Mangaluru city in the South Indian state of Karnataka, performed a highly complex procedure to remove a large piece of coconut branch that impaled the chest of a 12-year-old boy, and saved his life. The operation, led by Dr. Suresh Pai, was carried out in the early hours of February 9 and has been recognized as a significant success in emergency trauma surgery.

The boy, Kamal Hussain, sustained a serious injury when a wooden fragment from a falling coconut branch pierced his neck and lodged in his chest. The incident took place at about 6:30 pm on February 8 in Madikeri (134 km north west of Manguluru), where his family -- originally from Guwahati in the state of Assam -- had been working on a coffee plantation for the past two years.

Following the accident, Hussain was initially taken to a local hospital in Madikeri. Given the severity of his injury, he was referred to Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru for specialized care. Accompanied by his elder brother and mother, he was rushed to the hospital at approximately 12:15 am on February 9.

“We immediately undertook the high-risk procedure, which lasted from 1:30 am to 3:30 am. During the surgery, we successfully extracted a 20 cm-long wooden fragment along with a broken steel chain that had lodged in his chest. Despite the severity of the injury, no major blood vessels were affected, greatly improving the boy’s chances of recovery,” said Dr. Pai.

Dr. D. S. Shivaprakash, District Surgeon and Superintendent of Wenlock District Hospital, commended the exceptional skill and commitment of the surgical and anesthesia teams.

“This was a highly delicate operation requiring extreme precision. Removing a foreign object of this size without causing additional damage to vital structures is a remarkable achievement,” he stated, adding that the dedication and expertise of the CTVS team and the operating room staff played a crucial role in the success of this surgery.

The boy’s elder brother, Tasar Ali, expressed deep gratitude to the medical team for their timely intervention and expertise.

“The doctors at Wenlock Hospital saved my brother’s life, and the surgery was carried out free of cost. We are incredibly thankful for their help,” he said.

Currently, Hussain is recovering well, with doctors closely monitoring his progress.

The case underscores the importance of advanced medical care and the critical role of specialized surgical expertise in managing life-threatening injuries.

Wenlock District Hospital, a key healthcare institution in Karnataka, continues to set high standards in trauma and emergency care, reinforcing its dedication to providing quality medical services to those in urgent need.