Lucknow: A team of doctors in the state capital has achieved a rare medical feat by successfully operating on an infant born with a congenital pseudo-tail, a condition seldom reported worldwide.
Surgeons at Balrampur Hospital performed the complex procedure on a newborn who had been living with a protruding tail-like structure since birth. The pseudo-tail had developed due to spina bifida occulta in the lower back and caused pain whenever stretched or moved.
The infant, a resident of Tikka village in Rawa Chauraha, Lakhimpur Kheri, had been denied surgery by several hospitals due to the complexity of the condition. The child’s parents, Sushil Kumar and Aarti Devi, said they had lost hope after multiple centres expressed their inability to operate.
Their search for treatment ended last Friday when they visited the OPD at Balrampur Hospital, where senior paediatric surgeon Dr. Akhilesh Kumar decided to take up the challenge.
Dr. Akhilesh Kumar said the child underwent all essential pre-operative investigations, including MRI, X-ray, ultrasound, and blood tests. Once the reports were found satisfactory, the surgery was scheduled and successfully performed on November 14 in the hospital’s operation theatre.
During the procedure, the pseudo-tail—firmly attached to the membranes of the spinal cord between vertebrae—was carefully dissected and removed. The surgery was completed without complications.
The child is recovering well in Paediatric Ward-3. Both legs are functioning normally, bladder and bowel control are intact, and the infant is able to consume milk and soft food comfortably.
The family expressed immense gratitude to the medical team, which included senior paediatric surgeon Dr. Akhilesh Kumar, anaesthesia specialists Dr. S.A. Mirza and Dr. M.P. Singh, and nursing and support staff Nirmala Mishra, Anjana Singh, Dr. Manish Verma (Intern), and Raju (Ward Boy).
Hospital Director Dr. Kavita Arya said the success reflects the institute’s advanced facilities and expert capabilities. “Such rare congenital cases can be managed efficiently because of the expertise available here. This surgery is a testament to the quality of our child health services and the commitment of our doctors,” she said.
Chief Medical Superintendent Dr. Himanshu Chaturvedi added, “This was an extremely challenging case, but our team handled it with exceptional precision. Our aim is that every family who comes to us with difficulty returns with satisfaction. The hospital will continue to lead in complex paediatric surgeries.”
Medical Superintendent Dr. Devashish Shukla praised the team’s achievement, saying, “The safe removal of such a complex tissue mass is highly commendable. We prioritise paediatric healthcare and consistently deliver outstanding results.”
