13-year-old Khrystyna suddenly lost the ability to walk due to a spinal lipoma, but after a complex surgery, all functions were restored.
The girl’s parents knew about the diagnosis from birth and regularly consulted with doctors. With age, Khrystyna experienced more frequent urinary system issues, prompting her parents to seek surgical treatment. However, they received only recommendations to go abroad.
On the eve of St. Nicholas Day, Khrystyna’s condition worsened, and her mother reached out to the online community for help. She received a response about the neurosurgeons at the Children’s Medical Center. “The patient’s mother wrote to us late at night on Friday, so we understood that the situation was critical. By Monday, Khrystyna was at our Clinic, where she underwent all examinations and was prepared for surgery. The intervention lasted almost 15 hours, was extremely complex, but successful,” says Mykhailo Lovga.
The doctor explains that the removal of a spinal lipoma is one of the most challenging surgeries. Fatty tissue grows into the spinal cord, causing it to stretch. The neurosurgeon’s task is to carefully separate and remove the formation, relieving compression of the nerve structures. The process is accompanied by neurophysiologists, who monitor the safe distance to the nerve structures.
According to Mykhailo Lovga, the team of neurosurgeons operates on one to two patients with spinal lipoma each month. The extensive experience and coordinated work of specialists allow these interventions to be carried out successfully and safely.