First successful surgery for young man with complex cervical spine fracture

A 25-year-old man was taken to the emergency room at the Orthopedic and Spinal Department of Bach Mai Hospital after a serious traffic accident. The patient fell off his motorbike and hit his head on a hard surface, resulting in severe neck pain.

After examination and X-rays, doctors determined that he had a fracture of the odontoid process - an important structure in cervical spine movement.

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%.

The young man was saved after laparoscopic surgery.

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.

Just 1 day after surgery, the young man was able to sit up, walk and eat normally without feeling uncomfortable or limited movement in his neck.

Associate Professor, Dr. Hoang Gia Du, Head of the Department of Orthopedics and Spine, said that endoscopic surgery directly inserting screws 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.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/y-te/lan-dau-tien-phau-thuat-thanh-cong-cho-thanh-nien-gay-cot-song-co-phuc-tap-i756653/