KIMS doctors save one-year-old with rare craniofacial surgery

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, JANUARY 16, 2026

In a remarkable medical feat that underscores the growing depth of advanced healthcare in eastern India, doctors at Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) have successfully performed a rare and life-saving craniofacial surgery on a one-year-old child suffering from a complex congenital disorder that threatened her brain development and eyesight.

The child was brought to KIMS with alarming symptoms — bulging eyes, an abnormally shaped skull and noticeable developmental delays. Detailed clinical evaluation and CT imaging revealed dangerously high intracranial pressure, a condition that can cause irreversible brain damage if left untreated. Acting swiftly, the medical team diagnosed the child with Crouzon’s Syndrome, an extremely rare craniofacial disorder in which premature fusion of skull bones restricts normal brain growth and leads to severe facial deformities.

Treating such a condition demands extraordinary surgical expertise and close coordination across specialties. With very few dedicated craniofacial centres in India — and none in the eastern region — the successful intervention marks a significant milestone not only for KIMS but also for regional paediatric healthcare.

A multidisciplinary craniofacial team comprising Prof. Sunil Kumar Rout from Plastic Surgery, Prof. Dipti Ranjan Satpathy from Neurosurgery, senior anaesthesiologist Dr. Sanjay Kumar Majhi, and paediatric specialists Prof. Sebaranjan Biswal, Prof. Bandya Sahoo and Dr. Mukesh Jain carefully evaluated the case and planned a highly delicate reconstructive procedure known as fronto-orbital advancement with calvarial vault remodelling. The complex surgery involved reshaping and repositioning the skull and eye socket bones to increase space for the growing brain, relieve pressure and restore facial symmetry.

Executed with exceptional precision, the operation was assisted by Dr. Jayanta Lenka from Plastic Surgery and Dr. Saurabh Gudia from Neurosurgery, while Dr. Majhi supervised anaesthesia and intensive post-operative management with the support of the paediatric ICU team. Following the procedure, the child’s skull volume was successfully expanded, normalising intracranial pressure and significantly improving facial structure.

The recovery has been steady and encouraging. The child has since been discharged in healthy condition and is now leading a normal, playful life — a transformation that has brought immense relief and joy to her family.

Hailing the achievement, KIIT and KISS Founder Dr. Achyuta Samanta congratulated the medical team for delivering such advanced and compassionate care, describing the surgery as a testament to KIMS’ growing capabilities in handling the most challenging and rare medical conditions. The child’s parents expressed profound gratitude to Dr. Samanta and the doctors for giving their daughter a new lease on life.

Buoyed by this success, KIMS has announced its intention to develop a dedicated Centre of Excellence for craniofacial disorders, bringing together highly trained specialists to offer hope and healing to children with rare and complex conditions — a development poised to change the healthcare landscape of eastern India.