Stem-Cell Surgery for Brain Injury Performed in India

Tagged: BGS Global Hospital, Brain, Brain injury, China, India, Madhumalika, Medical Tourism, Stem-Cell

A stem cell surgery was performed at the BGS Global Hospital in India to try to heal the brain injury suffered by a patient in a road accident in December 2008. The surgery was performed on Madhumalika who suffered from a condition called ‘diffuse axonal brain injury’. The condition had left the patient in a coma for more than three months forcing her parents to retire from work to look after her. Madhumalika’s parents had lost hope that she would ever recover but still decided that they would try everything possible so that their daughter would get well.

The surgery was performed in March 2009. During the procedure, bone marrow was injected into the patient’s head. The stem cells, about four million per body weight, were injected to the brain. The stem cells were prepared by the Stempeutics Research Pvt Ltd.

It was the first time the procedure was ever performed in India. It is only the second time that the procedure was attempted. The first country to perform stem cell therapy to cure brain injury was in China. This is according to the chief Neurosurgeon of the hospital- NK Venkataramana.

One month after the surgery, the patient showed considerable improvement, this proved that the surgery was successful. Madhumalika was able to regain consciousness and began talking again. Soon she was able to recognize people again and started to gain functions on her limbs. The patient is still undergoing physiotherapy to gain the strength and flexibility of the joints. The patient is now working hard to gain her life back.