Agartala Doctors Successfully Operate on 1-Year-11-Month-Old Child with Rare Giant Spinal Tumor
Tripura, 24 August 2026: Doctors at Tripura Medical College have successfully performed a challenging surgery on a one-year-and-11-month-old child suffering from a rare and giant lipomyelomeningocele, a congenital spinal condition associated with incomplete closure of the spine.
The child, Kahham Debbarma, son of Rangadulal Debbarma and Swapna Rani Debbarma of Dhanirampur area under Sonamura subdivision, was born with a small swelling on his back that gradually increased in size.
According to his mother, Swapna Rani Debbarma, the child was initially treated at GB Hospital, where several investigations including MRI, sonography and other tests were conducted. The family was subsequently advised to wait. Later, following a referral from a private hospital, the child was brought to Tripura Medical College for further treatment.
Dr. Aniruddha Basak, Assistant Professor and Pediatric & Neonatal Surgeon at Tripura Medical College, said medical investigations revealed a huge lipomyelomeningocele. In this condition, the spine does not close properly during development, leaving a defect through which spinal fluid and neural structures can protrude, forming a mass.
The child was admitted and underwent surgery on August 21. Dr. Basak said the operation took around one and a half hours, and the removed mass weighed approximately 250 grams.
The procedure involved more than simply removing the mass. Surgeons had to carefully dissect the neural structures, repair the spinal defect and provide adequate soft-tissue coverage for the large surgical wound.
Despite the delayed presentation, the surgery was successful. According to Dr. Basak, the child is currently stable, breastfeeding normally, moving both legs, and has no apparent impairment of bowel or bladder function.
Dr. Basak emphasized that such cases are rare and ideally require treatment during the neonatal period, preferably within the first 30 days after birth. Delayed treatment can increase the risk of neurological complications, including problems with leg movement and bowel or bladder control.
He urged parents to seek specialist medical attention as early as possible if any unusual swelling, abnormality or other concerning symptoms are noticed in a newborn or young child.
For the family, the successful operation has brought immense relief, with the child’s mother expressing happiness that her son is now recovering well.
