12-Year-Old Boy 'Regained His Life' after Doctors Reattach His Head in ‘Extremely Rare’ Surgery

• Suleiman Hassan, a 12-year-old boy from Jerusalem, survived one of the most complicated surgeries.
• The boy suffered a tragic car accident, leaving his head almost completely separated from his neck.
• But the doctors of Hadassah Medical Center Ein Kerem successfully fixed Hassan's neck and saved his life.

Suleiman Hassan, a 12-year-old boy from Jerusalem, Israel, survived a rare surgery after almost losing his life to a tragic accident. Hassan was forcefully hit by a car while riding a bike. He suffered severe injuries, leaving him with what was described as an internal decapitation.

He endured a fracture in his head that damaged the ligaments that held the joints between his head and neck together. The boy was immediately rushed to the Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem by helicopter, and they admitted him for one of the most complex surgeries.

All about the Rare Surgery the 12-Year-Old Survived

Internal decapitation is a severe and life-threatening injury where the head becomes disconnected from the neck inside the body. According to reports, the chances of survival for people who experience this type of injury are incredibly slim, and in most cases, it leads to death.

However, there's a bit of hope for children who suffer from this condition. Studies suggest that children have a better chance of surviving internal decapitation than adults. That means they may be more likely to recover from this severe injury.

Even though there is not enough information and research to fully understand how children and teenagers handle internal decapitation compared to each other, a 2021 study showed that 55% of children and adolescents do not survive the initial injury, the trip to the hospital, the surgery, and the healing process, reducing their chances of survival.

One of the doctors that helped Hassan was Dr. Ohad Einav, an orthopedic specialist. He said Hassan's head was almost completely disconnected from the base of his neck, revealing his condition was making it an "extremely rare" surgery. However, Hassan had his father by his side throughout the whole process.

Dr. Ziv Asa, another doctor that was part of the miraculous procedure, said there is usually a 50% chance of survival for this kind of surgery. But despite the complications and pressure the doctors faced, the surgery was successful.

Since the surgery had a low chance of survival, the hospital reportedly waited a month before sharing the results on social media. Einav praised his team for fighting for Hassan's life and explained, "Our ability to save the child was thanks to our knowledge and the most innovative technology in the operating room."

During the surgery, the doctors used new and advanced medical tools called "plates and fixations." These tools are like strong metal supports that help keep the damaged area in the proper position, allowing it to heal correctly. The surgery was complicated, and the orthopedic specialist revealed it took a few hours to complete.

Einav revealed that he had performed similar surgery on adults as part of his training in Toronto, which helped him prepare to take on Hassan's complicated case. The doctor also added that this kind of surgery was hardly performed on children or teenagers, so surgeons needed the proper knowledge and experience to take it on.

Suleiman Hassan's Father Thanked the Medical Staff for Saving His Son's Life

The success of this surgery is particularly miraculous because not only did the surgeons successfully reconnect Hassan's head to his neck, but he walked out of the hospital without any neurological deficits or sensory and motor dysfunctions.

Einav added, "…he is functioning normally, and walking without an aid after such a long process is no small thing." Throughout the long surgery and continued recovery, Hassan's father never left his son's side.

The father thanked the doctors profusely for saving his child's life. He said, "I will thank you all my life for saving my dear only son. Bless you all. Thanks to you he regained his life even when the odds were low and the danger was obvious. What saved him were professionalism, technology and quick decision-making by the trauma and orthopedics team. All I can say is a big thank you. [sic]"

After a long time in the hospital, Hassan was eventually sent home with a cervical splint. He will continue to recover in the comfort of his home while also under medical supervision. Click here to read another inspiring story about doctors who helped a baby girl born without a nose.