According to the patient, approximately two hours before admission, while riding as a pillion passenger on a motorcycle, he was unfortunately involved in a traffic accident with a container truck. The strong impact caused the patient to be thrown onto the road, with his head, chest, and right hip striking a hard surface. After the accident, the patient remained conscious but experienced ear bleeding and significant pain in the cheek, chest, and hip regions.

After receiving first aid at Duy Tien General Hospital, the patient was transferred to the Ninh Binh branch of Bach Mai Hospital in a state of multiple trauma. Examination and diagnostic imaging results confirmed that the patient suffered from a traumatic brain injury; multiple fractures of the right ribs, including displaced rib fractures piercing the lung parenchyma, causing pneumothorax, hemothorax, and lung collapse; a fracture of the right pelvic ring; as well as a displaced fracture of the right zygomatic bone and zygomatic arch.

Based on a multidisciplinary consultation, the Odonto-Stomatology Department team decided to perform surgery for maxillofacial fracture fixation for the patient

Immediately upon admission, the patient underwent a multidisciplinary consultation to develop a comprehensive treatment strategy. Life-threatening injuries were prioritized, creating favorable conditions for maxillofacial reconstruction once the patient's general condition was stable.

After systemic injuries were controlled, the Odonto-Stomatology Department conducted an in-depth evaluation. The results indicated that the patient suffered from a complex right zygomatic-maxillary fracture, causing facial asymmetry, limited mouth opening, and impaired chewing function.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thuc, Deputy Head of the Odonto-Stomatology Department at Bach Mai Hospital and the primary surgeon for the operation, stated that zygomatic complex fractures are among the common injuries following high-impact trauma. If not treated promptly and with proper techniques, the patient could face various sequelae such as facial deformity, limited mouth opening, and long-term impairment of chewing function.

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thuc, for multi-trauma patients, selecting the correct surgical timing is decisive. Only when systemic injuries are controlled can the surgery ensure safety and provide optimal recovery for both function and aesthetics.

Based on the multidisciplinary consultation, the Odonto-Stomatology Department team decided to perform maxillofacial bone fixation surgery using an alloy plate and screw system. The surgical team, consisting of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thuc, Dr. Lai Huy Hoang, and anesthesiologists, coordinated seamlessly to reduce the fracture fragments to their correct anatomical positions and secure them with plates and screws, thereby restoring the zygomatic-zygomatic arch structure and recovering facial morphology and chewing function.

Post-surgery, the patient recovered favorably. The face gradually returned to symmetry, mouth opening function improved, the bite was stable, and the patient continues to be monitored and undergo rehabilitation according to the treatment protocol.

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thuc, the success of the case is the result of close coordination between multiple specialties in treating multi-trauma patients. A comprehensive assessment of injuries, the selection of the correct timing for intervention, and synchronized coordination between specialties helped the patient to be treated safely, achieving optimal recovery results.

Not only helping the patient recover their face and chewing function after severe trauma, but the surgery also demonstrates the effectiveness of the multidisciplinary coordination model in treating complex multi-trauma cases. The successful implementation of the technique right at the Ninh Binh branch of Bach Mai Hospital continues to affirm the professional capacity of the hospital, while also expanding opportunities for accessing high-tech services for residents in the Ninh Binh area and neighboring provinces right in the locality.

Article and photo: Thanh Duong