Emergency treatment for a boy with many iron arrows deeply stabbed in the face

At 04:07 on December 12, patient MTP (11 years old, residing in Ky Son district) was admitted to the hospital with 4 iron arrows deeply stabbed into his nose. The child was in great pain and could not open his right eye.

MTP had four iron arrows stuck deep into his face. Photo: BVCC

The patient's family said: At 8:00 p.m. on December 11, the patient and his cousin were using a homemade crossbow to catch mice. During this process, the patient's cousin accidentally triggered the crossbow, causing 4 metal arrows to shoot straight into MTP's face, piercing the base of his nose.

Immediately, the family took MTP to the Ky Son District Medical Center for emergency treatment. At the District Medical Center, doctors shortened the arrow, provided initial emergency treatment, and transferred him to a higher level.Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital.

Four 5cm long arrowheads were removed by doctors. Photo: BVCC

At the Emergency Department, the patient MTP received first aid and an interdisciplinary consultation was conducted. The child was ordered to have a CT scan and the images showed 4 foreign objects penetrating the nasal bone, the frontal beak of the maxilla and the right lacrimal bone; the ends entered the nasal cavity and the right anterior ethmoid sinus. One rod penetrated the lateral border of the rectus muscle in the right eye socket. Thedoctorconsulted and decided to operate immediately to remove 4 arrows from the patient's face.

“This case is very dangerous, because if the position of the 4 arrows moves just a little bit deeper or to the side, it will cause damage to the eyeball or possibly damage the brain, causing unpredictable consequences. The surgery took place for more than 1 hour and was coordinated by 3 specialties: Ear, Nose and Throat, Eyes and Anesthesia and Resuscitation.

Currently, MTP is being closely monitored by doctors after the surgery. Photo: BVCC

The foreign object was four 5cm long arrowheads that were removed. However, the risk of infection was very high because the arrows were made of rusty metal and one arrow was especially close to the eyeball" - Doctor Doan Nhan Chinh - Deputy Head of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, the main surgeon of the emergency surgery shared.

Currently, MTP is being closely monitored by doctors after surgery./.