Afghan girl injured in blast on way to recovery at AIIMS: Docs

A 10-year-old girl had suffered severe brain injuries in a bomb blast in Afghanistan.

New Delhi: A 10-year-old girl from Afghanistan, who was airlifted to the AIIMS Trauma Centre here after suffering severe brain injuries in a bomb blast, is showing signs of recovery, doctors said today.

Zakia Moqim was brought to the trauma centre on November 8 in an unconscious state, Dr Rajesh Malhotra, the chief of the trauma centre, said.

"She had sustained injuries in the brain and leg and had come in an unconscious state with left hemiplegia (no movement in one side of the body)," he said.

According to Dr Deepak Gupta, Professor of Neurosurgery at AIIMS, multiple shrapnels had penetrated into her brain and skull and were lodged in the right frontal lobe. This caused swelling on the right side of her brain.

Open injuries to the brain, like these, particularly with foreign bodies, can cause meningitis.

She was managed in the Neurological ICU with antibiotics and medication.

"We did not take out the foreign bodies which had penetrated into her skull as they were lodged in the frontal lobe of the brain. Any manipulation to remove such impacted bodies is not advisable.

 They can be left alone safely as they do not interfere with the routine functioning of the brain," Dr Gupta said.

Dr Malhotra said the fracture in her leg along with skin loss was managed with orthopedic and plastic surgery interventions.

He said the girl had gained consciousness and was fully alert.

"She still has a little weakness in the left side of the body but is recovering well. She will be discharged soon," Dr Malhotra said.

He said the girl's father came to know about AIIMS following which he travelled to India. He contacted the Afghan embassy here which facilitated her arrival to the country for treatment.