Teen's Skull Rebuilt After Near-Fatal Fall

Matthew Polaski, an 18-year-old from New Jersey, is making an extraordinary comeback following a life-threatening fall from a third-floor balcony in the Dominican Republic on December 28, 2025. Found comatose, he had sustained severe fractures to both sides of his skull. Emergency surgery and a medically induced coma were followed by paralysis on his left side, with initial concerns about his ability to walk, talk, or eat.

Defying expectations, Polaski showed rapid progress, regaining mobility within weeks and transferring to a rehabilitation institute. Doctors Nitesh Patel and Chris Lakhiani then performed a cranial reconstruction surgery on March 10, using custom 3D-printed skull implants made from PEEK material. These implants were designed from CT scans of his skull.

Polaski is now cleared to return to the University of Alabama, where he will pursue a double major in finance and accounting. He expressed immense excitement about returning to campus life, including seeing his fraternity brothers and attending football games, motivated by the prospect of a normal life. A full recovery is anticipated to take one to two years.