In a remarkable blend of medical and musical achievement, Florida guitarist Christian Nolen has garnered global attention by playing guitar during brain surgery.
This unique event took place at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine.
It’s where Nolen’s musical skills were utilized to monitor his motor functions while removing a tumor. He played some of his favorite rock riffs Fox News reported.
Nolen’s journey began after a knock during a live show led to a loss of feeling on the left side of his body.
He was unable to raise his left arm above his waist, and his face began to drag. After a medical evaluation, doctors diagnosed him with a glioma —a type of brain tumor.
The tumor was located in the right frontal lobe which controls movement and other cognitive abilities.
Facing the necessity of surgery, Nolen was presented with an unusual proposition by Dr. Ricardo Komotar, the director of the University of Miami Brain Tumor Initiative. The surgical team asked Nolen to play his guitar during the procedure to help ensure his motor skills remained intact.
According to Fox News, during the procedure, Nolen said, “This is wild.”
Nolen underwent an awake craniotomy, a procedure where the patient is kept awake to allow surgeons to monitor brain functions in real-time.
He was put to sleep initially as his skull was opened. Afterward, he was awakened during the tumor removal process to play his guitar.
This allowed the surgical team to observe and protect his dexterity.
“It was just like out of this world, like, to just like wake up and have people actively working inside of your head. It’s kind of an insane feeling,” Nolen told WSVN.
Despite the overwhelming nature of the situation, Nolen remained calm and performed songs by Deftones and System of a Down.
The surgical team monitored his movements closely, ensuring that no critical brain functions were compromised.
The surgery was a success, and Nolen was discharged the following day. He has since returned home and is once again playing the guitar.
Although he awaits the final pathology results, he is expected to undergo additional radiation and chemotherapy as follow-up treatment.
