Doctors reconstruct soldier's skull with 3D-printed plates after he was shot in the head
Doctors have saved the life of Oleksii Lytvynchuk, 48, a soldier from Volyn Oblast who was shot in the head and had a bullet pass through his brain.
Oleksii did not regain consciousness for three weeks. The Nezlamni (Unbroken) National Rehabilitation Centre said his battle for recovery has been going on for six months.
The centre's doctors performed complex reconstructive surgery and covered the 22-cm cranial defect with 3D-printed plates.
"Oleksii Lytvynchuk is from Volyn, he’s 48," the doctors said. "In his civilian life, he was a children's football coach. He went to fight in 2014. He served for a year and then returned to civilian life and coaching.
In February 2022, he went back to the army and joined the ranks of the Luhansk border guard unit, where he served as a machine gunner."
On 4 April 2023, Oleksii was wounded in the head at a combat post. A Russian bullet hit the soldier's forehead, passed through his brain and exited through the back of his head.
The wounded soldier was quickly evacuated by his brothers-in-arms. He was given life-saving treatment, first in a hospital close to the front line, and later in Kyiv.
Intensive care doctors spent two months treating the patient while he was in a coma. As soon as his condition was stabilised, he was moved to Lviv.
"Oleksii was admitted to us in a serious condition with a skull and brain defect. Our task was to cover the defect as quickly as possible using customised 3D-printed plates. The operation is challenging, but unfortunately, it’s much in demand nowadays. Thousands of soldiers suffer similar injuries," says neurosurgeon Andrii Batiuk.
The 22-cm defect in Oleksii's cranial bones was covered with expensive state-of-the-art 3D-printed plates paid for by the state. The operation lasted four hours and was successful.
Oleksii's brain injury has left him with impaired speech and mobility in his left limbs, so he will need long-term physiotherapy, but doctors say he has already achieved a lot.
"Three weeks on from complex reconstructive surgery, the defender is feeling much better. He speaks well and even cracks jokes. He is gradually starting to recover mobility in his left arm and leg. He can now eat, sit up and walk with support.
All this time, his sister has been by his side. She has not left her brother for a day, and she fervently believes he will get back on his feet again. Oleksii himself dreams of chasing the ball on the field and coaching children again," the doctors added.
Background:
- Earlier, doctors removed a mine shank from a soldier's body.
- Surgeons have also put another soldier back on his feet after his legs were paralysed by a piece of shrapnel.
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