Gabrielle Giffords responds well to skull surgery, doctors say

[IDemo]

Source: Los Angeles Times


Surgeons at Tucson's University Medical Center on Monday said they had operated on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' skull Saturday to repair damage to her eye sockets caused by the bullet that passed through her head in the shooting a week earlier.

The medical team had made minor repairs to the orbits around her eyes when she was first brought in for surgery in order to relieve pressure on her brain, but they didn't want to spend a lot of time on it then, Dr. Michael Lemole, the neurosurgeon who was part of the trauma team that cared for her, said at a Monday news conference.

"We put it off until such time as she was through the critical period," he said. "We did want to repair it within a reasonable time to prevent complications."

The bullet fired by Jared Loughner entered above her left eye, passed through the left hemisphere of her brain, and exited through the rear of her skull.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/health/la-na-gabrielle-giffords-medical-20110118,0,6423740.story

[Skittles]

1. :O

I cringe just reading about what that gal is going through

[madrchsod]

3. makes all the crap that i`ve had done child`s play....

[onehandle]

7. You're not alone. nt

[Botany]

2. for all the talk of "the good old days" modern medicine is amazing ...

.... as is Ms. Gabby. I wish all involved in helping her and her family nothing but the
best.

[dipsydoodle]

4. I would assume

that the section of skull which was completely removed to alleviate pressure from swelling of the brain has yet to be reattached - anyone know ?

[IDemo]

5. Not sure

I thought I had read that they could either re-attach the removed section or use a steel plate, depending on the condition of the skull.

[LisaL]

6. I do not believe it has been reattached yet.

[Jayberwock]

8. How's her eye?

I hadn't heard this discussed except hearing that she had 'a patch' on one eye. Is it still intact?

[brooklynite]

9. Gabrielle Giffords continues recovery

Source: Washington Post

TUCSON - Rep. Gabrielle Giffords continues to make progress in what doctors here on Monday described as a miraculous recovery after undergoing a minor procedure over the weekend to repair a fracture in her right eye.

The Arizona congresswoman apparently recognized her husband, gave him a smile and rubbed his neck for 10 minutes, which doctors at University Medical Center said is a sign that her higher cognitive abilities were preserved after she was shot through the head Jan. 8 in a rampage that killed six people and wounded 13.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/17/AR2011011702542.html?hpid=topnews

---

I have no idea if she'll recover to the point where she can return to her Congressional job, but I'm encouraged every day by the news of her recovery.

[targetpractice]

10. Frontal lobe traumatic brain injury is heartbreaking...

The result can be significant personality and temperament changes... Often a completely different person emerges after recovery.

[LawnKorn]

11. K&R

[Youth Uprising]

12. Great news!

Miss Gifford's seemingly speedy recovery is short of astonishing! I guess her reputation as a fighter was well placed. After so much heartbreak these past few days, it's heartwarming to hear that there appears to be a bright light at the end of this long dark tunnel for Miss Giffords and her family. I wish them all the best.