Emergency treatment for a young boy with multiple iron arrows deeply embedded in his face.

At 4:07 AM on December 12th, patient MTP (11 years old, residing in Ky Son district) was admitted to the hospital with four iron arrows deeply embedded in his nose. The child was in great pain and unable to open his right eye.

MTP had four iron arrows embedded deep in his face. Photo: Provided by the hospital.

The patient's family stated that at 8 PM on December 11th, the patient and his cousin were using a homemade crossbow to catch rats. During this process, the cousin accidentally fired the crossbow, causing four metal arrows to shoot directly into the patient's face, lodging in the base of his nose.

Immediately, the family took MTP to the emergency room at Ky Son District Health Center. At the district health center, doctors shortened the arrow, provided initial emergency treatment, and referred the child to a higher-level facility.Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital.

Four arrowheads, each 5 cm long, were removed by the doctors. Photo: Provided by the hospital.

At the Emergency Department, patient MTP received first aid and underwent interdisciplinary consultation. A CT scan was ordered, and the images revealed four foreign objects penetrating the nasal bone, the frontal process of the upper jaw, and the right lacrimal bone; their ends entering the nasal cavity and the right anterior ethmoid sinus. One object penetrated the outer edge of the rectus abdominis muscle in the right orbit.doctorAfter consultation, they decided to perform surgery immediately to remove the four arrows from the patient's face.

"This case was very dangerous because if the four arrows had shifted even slightly further inward or to the side, it could have damaged the eyeball or even the brain, with unpredictable consequences. The surgery, which lasted over an hour, involved collaboration between three specialties: Otolaryngology, Ophthalmology, and Anesthesia and Resuscitation."

Currently, MTP is being closely monitored by doctors following the surgery. Photo: Provided by the hospital.

"The foreign objects were four arrowheads, each 5 cm long, which were removed. However, the risk of infection is very high because the arrows were made of rusty metal, and especially because one arrow was very close to the eyeball," shared Dr. Doan Nhan Chinh, Deputy Head of the Ear, Nose and Throat Department and the lead surgeon in the emergency operation.

Currently, MTP is being closely monitored by doctors following the surgery.