Man Strums Guitar During Brain Surgery in Astonishing Feat

In an extraordinary medical and musical feat, Florida guitarist Christian Nolen has captured global attention by playing guitar during brain surgery at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine.

Nolen’s musical skills were utilized to monitor his motor functions while removing a glioma, a type of brain tumor, located in his right frontal lobe. His journey began after an on-stage accident led to a loss of sensation on the left side of his body, preventing him from raising his left arm above his waist and causing facial dragging. After a medical evaluation, doctors diagnosed him with the tumor.

Facing surgery, Nolen received an unusual proposition from Dr. Ricardo Komotar, director of the University of Miami Brain Tumor Initiative: to play his guitar during the procedure. The surgical team asked Nolen to perform to ensure his motor skills remained intact.

Nolen underwent an awake craniotomy, where the patient stays awake to allow real-time monitoring of brain functions. He was initially put to sleep as his skull was opened and awakened during the tumor removal to play his guitar. This allowed the team to protect his dexterity.

“It was just like out of this world, like, to just 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 closely monitored his movements, ensuring no critical brain functions were compromised.

The surgery was successful, and Nolen was discharged the following day. He has since returned home and resumed playing the guitar. Although he awaits the final pathology results, he is expected to undergo additional radiation and chemotherapy as follow-up treatment.

Nolen’s experience not only highlights the importance of innovative medical approaches but also the power of combining art and science to achieve remarkable outcomes.