Successfully treated complex cervical spine fracture by endoscopic surgery

GĐXH - Vietnamese medicine has just had a new miracle when a hospital successfully treated a complex cervical spine fracture using endoscopic surgery.

First endoscopic surgery for cervical spine fracture

On January 15, news from Bach Mai Hospital said that the hospital had just set a new milestone in Vietnamese medicine when it successfully treated a complex cervical spine fracture using endoscopic surgery. This is the first time this technique has been performed in Vietnam, opening up new hope for young patients with serious spinal injuries.

Previously, on January 1, the Department of Orthopedics and Spine, Bach Mai Hospital received a 25-year-old male patient who had a traffic accident. This person fell off his motorbike, hitting his head on a hard surface, leading to severe neck pain. After examination and X-rays, doctors determined that he had a fracture of the odontoid process - an important structure in the movement of the cervical spine.

According to experts, a fractured odontoid process is a dangerous injury that can easily lead to displacement, non-union of the bone, and has a high risk of causing spinal cord paralysis, leaving serious sequelae. Conservative treatment often has a failure rate of up to 85%.

Direct endoscopic screw surgery of the odontoid process is an advance in cervical spine surgery. Photo: BVCC

Instead of using the traditional open surgery method, the doctors decided to perform endoscopic screw surgery directly into the odontoid process through an incision in front of the cervical spine. This is an advanced technique that helps preserve the natural movement of the C1-C2 joint (this joint is responsible for 50% of the neck's rotation ability), while reducing the risk of infection, reducing blood loss and shortening recovery time.

The surgery requires a highly skilled medical team and good coordination because the neck area contains many large blood vessels and important organs. According to doctors at Bach Mai Hospital, this is the first successful endoscopic direct screw surgery of the odontoid process in Vietnam.

Just one day after surgery, the patient was able to sit up, walk and eat normally without feeling any discomfort or limited movement in the neck. The small incision of only about 1 cm left almost no trace. The patient did not feel any screws in the neck, all activities were the same as before the accident.

Previously, open surgery often fixed the C1-C2 vertebrae, limiting the natural movement of the neck and easily leading to degeneration of adjacent joints. Endoscopic surgery not only overcomes these limitations but also maintains the rotational mobility of the neck, especially suitable for young patients.

Associate Professor, Dr. Hoang Gia Du - Head of the Department of Orthopedics and Spine, said that endoscopic surgery with direct screw insertion into the odontoid process is a major step forward, bringing high efficiency with a success rate of 90-95%. This technique is not only an achievement of the medical team but also opens up opportunities for safe and advanced treatment for many patients in Vietnam without having to go abroad for treatment.

One day after surgery, the patient can sit up, walk and eat normally. Photo: BVCC

Is spinal fracture dangerous?

A spinal fracture is a serious injury that causes damage to the spinal cord, affecting mobility. The main symptom of a spinal fracture is back pain. It may start gradually and get worse over time, or it may come on suddenly and be sharp. But regardless of how it occurs, it is an important symptom for your doctor to detect and diagnose the disease correctly.

Along with back pain, spinal fractures can cause other symptoms such as: Pain that gets worse when standing or walking. But when lying down, people with spinal fractures feel better and feel better; Problems bending or twisting; Loss of height; Shape of the spine when it is bent.

Some signs of a spinal fracture vary: For some people with a spinal fracture, there will be little pain as the bone heals. This may take 2-3 months. However, for others, pain continues after the fracture has healed. Some people do not experience any symptoms from a spinal fracture. The fractures still occur gradually, so the pain may be minimal or not felt at all. For others, the pain may develop into chronic back pain in the injured area.

When you have multiple spinal fractures, the spine changes. Part of the vertebrae may collapse because of the fractures. This means that it cannot support the weight of the spine, which affects how the body functions.

Symptoms of spinal injuries vary from person to person. Therefore, if you experience back pain or other spinal problems, seek medical attention. This will help identify the cause and provide early treatment to avoid serious consequences.

Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/cuu-chua-thanh-cong-ca-gay-cot-song-co-phuc-tap-bang-phau-thuat-noi-soi-17225011514274957.htm