Airlifted 14 days ago from her home in Afghanistan, Zakia Moqim (10) has pleasantly surprised the medical staff at the All India Institute of Medical Science’s Trauma Centre with her recovery.
The child was brought in for specialised and intensive treatment to the Capital after suffering severe brain injuries in a bomb blast.
“Zakia was brought to the trauma centre on November 8 in an unconscious state. She had sustained injuries to the brain and leg, and had arrived in an unconscious state with left hemiplegia [no movement in one side of the body]. But what is heartening is the fact that she is showing very positive signs of recovery,” Rajesh Malhotra, the chief of the trauma centre, said.
According to a release issued by the institute, the child is now conscious and fully alert.
“She still has little weakness in the left side of the body but is recovering well. She will be discharged soon,” noted Dr. Malhotra.
Shrapnel in frontal lobe
The girl’s father found out about AIIMS, after which he travelled to India. He contacted the Afghan Embassy her,e which facilitated her arrival to the country for treatment.
Meanwhile, according to Deepak Gupta, Professor of Neurosurgery at AIIMS, multiple shrapnel had penetrated Zakia’s brain and skull, and were lodged in the right frontal lobe.
“This caused swelling on the right side of her brain. Open injuries to the brain, like these, particularly with foreign bodies, can cause meningitis. She was treated in the neurological ICU with antibiotics and medication,’’ he explained.
Dr. Gupta further said that doctors did not take out the foreign bodies which had penetrated her skull as they were lodged in the frontal lobe of the brain.
“Any manipulation to remove such impacted bodies is not advisable. They can be left alone safely as they do not interfere with the routine functioning of the brain,” he said.
Also, the fracture in the child’s leg along with skin loss was managed with orthopaedic and plastic surgery interventions.
