53-year-old Dagmar Turner A Member Of the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra Plays Violin During Brain Operation

A patient in hospital has been playing the violin whilst having brain surgery ensuring  that crucial hand movement and coordination skills were not damaged by doctors during surgery.

The operation was successful  to remove the  tumour that took place  at King’s College Hospital in London.

The patient undergoing the surgery was 53-year-old Dagmar Turner, an exceptional  violinist who belongs to the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra.

The violinist was brought out of sedation during the procedure to play the Violin .

According to a King’s College Hospital press release, the tumour removed was in her right frontal lobe, near an area that controls the fine movement in her left hand.

The operation was overseen by Professor Keyoumars Ashkan, consultant neurosurgeon at King’s College Hospital, who opened Ms Turner’s skull before she was awoken by anaesthesiologists and a therapist.

This was a first time operation with a musical instrument being played.

Professor Ashkan, who himself holds a degree in music and is an accomplished piano player thought up the  tailored plan to preserve Ms Turner’s musical skills whilst performing the delicate brain operation.

Professor Ashkan said “We knew how important the violin is to Dagmar so it was vital that we preserved function in the delicate areas of her brain that allowed her to play,”

“We managed to remove over 90 per cent of the tumour, including all the areas suspicious of aggressive activity, while retaining full function in her left hand.”

The patient Ms Turner was amazingly released from hospital just 3 days after the operation and is at home playing her violin and reunited with her adoring husband and son.