Depressed Skull Fracture Treatment in India

Aarav Williams, a 19-year-old college baseball...

Aarav Williams, a 19-year-old college baseball pitcher, was hit in the left temple by a line drive during practice. He was not wearing a batting helmet while pitching. He collapsed immediately. Rushed to the trauma center, a CT scan showed a depressed skull fracture in the thin temporal bone, with bone fragments perilously close to the middle meningeal artery. The neurosurgery team, led by Dr. Chen, explained the urgent need for surgery to prevent an epidural hematoma, a deadly complication. The procedure was also necessary to reduce the risk of future epilepsy from cortical irritation. Aarav and his family were in shock; his promising athletic future seemed shattered in an instant. The surgery involved a temporal craniotomy, careful elevation of the bone, and inspection of the dura. Recovery was physically and emotionally grueling. He was sidelined from sports for a full year, battling headaches and anxiety. However, with neurocognitive therapy and gradual conditioning, he was eventually cleared to play. His emotional journey evolved from despair and identity crisis to a hard-won resilience. He returned to the mound the following season with a renewed perspective and a mandatory helmet for all pitchers during practice.