Bullet pierced Iraqi’s brain, Bangalore hospital ends his pain

It was a hot summer night in August 1995 when a bullet hit two-year-old Bavel Fatih Mohammed, who was sleeping on the terrace of his house in As-Sulaymaniyah, northern Iraq. Blame it on the riot that day because of death of a political leader, Bavel, until recently, was unable to use his right hand and leg and had difficulty while walking. After 17 years of being in this condition, he got treatment in the city recently.

That night the bullet pierced through the top-left side of his head and passed through his brain, coming out from the right side of the back of his neck. This was followed by two years of hospitalisation, a surgery and about seven months of comatose. Bavel suffered from Dystonia for 17-long years.

All these years, he had an abnormal posture—his hand was bent backwards and leg was flexed. He was walking mostly on the toes with legs crossing over each other, affecting his balance further.

With difficulty to carry on his day-to-day activities, Bavel completed his school education and is ready for college. “We consulted several hospitals in Iraq, but to no avail. We even contacted health institutes in Germany. But they turned us down saying there’s no treatment and cure for my son,” said Roshna, his mother and a teacher. When a relative, who had earlier taken treatment in the city’s BGS Global Hospital, recommended the hospital, the family immediately brought Bavel to Bangalore.

In last week of August, Bavel was admitted at the hospital. “He was in pain due to spasms while walking and could take a few steps with difficulty. The movement of his right hand also interfered with the activities of left hand and he had trouble while eating or dressing up. He had difficulty in opening his eyes and using his right hand,” said Dr LK Prashanth, consultant neurologist and movement disorders specialist, BGS Global Hospitals.

At the hospital, Bavel underwent Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) technique that lasted eight hours. The surgery was done on September 8. “A DBS battery was implanted in a pocket created below the collar bone. The battery was connected to the electrode on the brain by a wire, which was tunnelled underneath the skin,” explained Dr Prashanth.

According to Dr NK Venkataramana, chief neurosurgeon, BGS Global Hospitals, Bavel’s was a difficult case because the patient was treated 17 years after the injury. Moreover, dystonia arising out of gunshot injury to the brain is rare. “Deep Brain Stimulation is a challenging and time-consuming procedure… This treatment was opted over open surgery to avoid the risk of increased damage to the brain,” he explained.