When Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan arrived at Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital after being stabbed in January 2025, doctors faced an extraordinary surgical challenge. A 2.5-inch piece of knife was lodged near his spinal cord, coming within just two millimetres of it. The injury had also caused a leak of cerebrospinal fluid, which surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord.
The knife fragment was not pulled out at the scene. It was removed during emergency surgery, allowing doctors to carefully address the damage and repair the spinal fluid leak. This case is a striking reminder of a first-aid principle that applies far beyond stab injuries: when an object is deeply embedded in a wound, removing it yourself can make a serious injury even worse.
But what should you do if you ever encounter an injury where an object is still lodged in the wound?
The first rule is not to remove a deeply embedded object yourself. Pulling it out can damage blood vessels, nerves or surrounding tissue and may worsen bleeding. Keep the object still and avoid twisting, pushing or probing the wound until medical help arrives.
What to do if the wound is bleeding
Instead of pressing directly on the embedded object, apply pressure around it with clean gauze or cloth, and use padding to keep the object stable. If blood soaks through, add more dressing rather than removing the original.
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When to seek emergency help
Seek urgent medical help for deep wounds, heavy bleeding or injuries to the head, chest, neck, abdomen or eye. Call the emergency number for an ambulance if there is severe bleeding, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness or signs of shock. Give the exact location and avoid moving the injured person unnecessarily, especially if a spinal injury is suspected.
What about small splinters?
Not every foreign object requires the same response. A small splinter lying just beneath the surface of the skin is very different from a deeply embedded piece of glass or metal.
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Some minor, superficial objects can be removed with appropriate first aid. However, if an object is difficult to remove, is painful, or is associated with significant bleeding, it is safer to have it assessed by a healthcare professional.
An embedded object can make an injury look alarming. The most important response is to stay calm and avoid making the situation worse. First aid in such situations is not about fixing the injury yourself, but about protecting the injured person until professional help takes over. Keep the object stable, control bleeding around it without pressing directly on the object, and seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Saif Ali Khan’s experience is a reminder that what looks like a straightforward wound from the outside can involve serious damage beneath the surface. In such emergencies, knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing what to do.
