Boy suffers ruptured spleen after being hit in the stomach by a soccer ball.

VTV.vn - Bai Chay Hospital (Quang Ninh) has successfully performed emergency surgery on a 13-year-old child who suffered a grade IV splenic rupture and hemorrhagic shock after a severe abdominal impact while playing football.

The doctor examines the child after surgery. Photo: Provided by the hospital.

Patient VBN (13 years old, residing in Quang Ninh ) was admitted to the hospital with progressively worsening abdominal pain and extreme fatigue after being hit hard in the stomach by a football while playing soccer on the morning of May 20, 2026.

According to the family, after the collision, the child experienced pain around the navel, with increased pain in the epigastric region, but no vomiting or fever. By evening, the abdominal pain worsened, and the child felt very weak, so they were taken to the emergency room at Bai Chay Hospital.

Examination and abdominal CT scan revealed the child had a large amount of free fluid in the abdominal cavity, a grade IV splenic injury according to the AAST classification, and hemorrhagic shock due to blunt abdominal trauma. Doctors quickly ordered emergency splenectomy, blood transfusion, and intensive care.

The surgical team, led by Specialist Doctor Nguyen Thanh Hung and his team, successfully performed a splenectomy in over an hour. After the surgery, the child was transferred to the Intensive Care and Toxicology Unit for further treatment.

By the morning of May 21st, after a day of intensive care with blood transfusions, antibiotics, pain relief, and nutritional support, the child's condition had stabilized, they were alert, breathing oxygen independently, blood pressure was stable, and SpO2 reached 98%.

Doctors warn that sports injuries in children should not be taken lightly, especially impacts to the abdomen, chest, or head. Some injuries to internal organs such as the liver and spleen can develop silently in the first few hours but quickly cause hemorrhagic shock, threatening life.

Parents should instruct children to warm up properly before playing sports and to use appropriate protective equipment. If, after an injury, the child shows signs of increasing abdominal pain, lethargy, dizziness, pale skin, sweating, or difficulty breathing, they should be quickly taken to a medical facility for prompt emergency treatment.

Source: https://vtv.vn/be-trai-vo-lach-do-bi-sut-bong-vao-bung-100260521134706707.htm