Doctors at KIMS Hospitals have successfully treated a 10-year-old boy diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cancer through advanced robotic spine surgery, offering him a renewed chance at a healthy life.
The child, Hima Sai from Hyderabad, initially experienced abdominal pain and severe lower back pain. However, preliminary evaluations at local clinics failed to identify the underlying cause. Subsequently, his family brought him to KIMS Hospitals, Kondapur, for detailed medical assessment.
Advanced Investigations Confirm Rare Bone Cancer
According to Dr. Krishna Chaitanya, Consultant Spine Surgeon at KIMS Hospitals, doctors conducted comprehensive clinical and radiological investigations, including an FDG-PET scan.
The imaging studies revealed significant thinning of one of the spinal bones, raising suspicion of a rare bone disorder. Following this, tissue analysis detected cancerous changes. Advanced diagnostic tests later confirmed the condition as Ewing sarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer commonly seen in children and adolescents.
Chemotherapy Followed by Complex Robotic Spine Surgery
Under the supervision of the oncology team, the child first underwent two cycles of chemotherapy and responded positively to the treatment.
Thereafter, the surgical team performed a highly complex robotic-guided L4 vertebra en-bloc excision along with spinal fixation surgery. The procedure involved the complete removal of the cancer-affected vertebra while preserving surrounding neurological structures.
Robotic Technology Improved Precision and Safety
Explaining the advantages of robotic-assisted surgery, Dr. Krishna Chaitanya said that robotic technology enabled accurate pre-surgical planning, precise placement of pedicle screws even in abnormal anatomical structures, and controlled surgical cuts for complete tumour removal.
He stated, “Robotics enhances precision and safety in surgery. However, it does not replace the surgeon’s expertise; it only supports it.”
Post-operative biopsy reports later confirmed complete tumour removal with clear surgical margins.
Child Recovers Without Neurological Complications
Following the surgery, the child recovered successfully without any neurological complications. Moreover, he gradually regained the ability to walk independently and was subsequently discharged from the hospital.
Doctors noted that en-bloc spinal tumour resection is performed very rarely because of its high complexity and the significant risk of complications. Therefore, the successful completion of this procedure marks a major milestone in advanced spinal cancer treatment.
The surgery was led by Dr. Krishna Chaitanya and Dr. Harsha Vikram, with expert oncology support from Dr. Priyanka.
Multidisciplinary Treatment Improves Outcomes in Ewing Sarcoma
Doctors explained that Ewing sarcoma primarily affects children and adolescents. They further emphasised that a combination of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy, whenever necessary, can significantly improve treatment outcomes.
In addition, they highlighted that robotic-assisted surgery helped identify and remove the complex spinal tumour with greater precision while supporting faster recovery and improved post-operative rehabilitation for the child.