On March 8, Gia An 115 Hospital announced that it had successfully treated a male patient, NQV (24 years old, residing in Ninh Thuan province), who suffered multiple injuries due to a traffic accident. After initial first aid at a local medical facility, the patient was transferred to Gia An 115 Hospital in an unconscious state, with loss of control over his limbs and weak legs.
Immediately, the patient was assigned a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scan of the cervical spine, and a CT scan of the brain as paraclinical tests. From there, the doctors decided to perform cervical spine surgery to relieve compression and fix the fracture, ensuring the safety of the cervical cord. This is the top priority, in addition to combining conservative internal medicine for brain damage.
According to Associate Professor, Doctor, Doctor Nguyen Ngoc Khang, Deputy Director of Surgery, Gia An 115 Hospital, the patient suffered a fracture of the odontoid process of the C2 cervical vertebra. This is one of the types of injuries that are difficult to diagnose but has a very high mortality rate, which can cause the patient to have cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest and death before reaching the hospital. Even when arriving at the hospital, if the cervical spine is not detected and immobilized properly, the patient's unconscious movements such as turning the head and struggling due to pain... can also make the condition worse, causing spinal cord edema, secondary spinal cord compression and threatening the patient's life.
In addition, without timely surgery, the patient also faces the risk of disability due to quadriplegia. The emergency surgery on the cervical spine was performed on a weekend morning, within 12 hours of the patient being admitted to the hospital. “Although this is one of the most difficult surgical areas of the spine due to the anatomical structure being the transition between the skull and the spine, even a small mistake can lead to irreversible nerve damage, thanks to extensive experience and the support of modern equipment, the doctors performed the surgery very successfully,” Associate Professor, Doctor, Doctor Nguyen Ngoc Khang informed.
At the same time, doctors used a screw-and-brace system to correct and fix the fractured vertebrae of the spine, helping the patient avoid the risk of secondary displacement. The brain hemorrhage was also treated medically with timely and effective drugs. After surgery, the injuries were improved and recovered spectacularly. The patient was able to move his limbs and walk normally. The patient was discharged from the hospital in stable condition in both the spine and skull.
Cervical spine and spinal cord injuries are serious, complex injuries with high mortality rates and severe sequelae, but are often caused by traffic accidents, domestic accidents, and sports injuries. With cervical spine injuries, especially high cervical spine injuries, timely detection and treatment are extremely important.
“For patients with cervical spine injuries, relatives should be careful not to move the patient on their own or let the patient move vigorously, which can make the injury worse. It is best to call an ambulance and take the patient to a hospital with a Spinal Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Trauma department and modern equipment as soon as possible so that the doctor can diagnose and treat them properly, helping to preserve the patient's life and motor function,” Associate Professor, Doctor, Doctor Nguyen Ngoc Khang advised.
Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/cuu-nam-thanh-nien-bi-gay-cot-song-co-phuc-tap-sau-tai-nan-giao-thong-post785122.html
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