A 17-year-old boy from Kamuthi, India, was saved by experts at Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre after undergoing multiple emergency surgeries lasting over eight hours. The boy, a second-year B.Com student, sustained severe facial disfigurement due to multiple deep cut injuries in the face and neck, exposing muscles, bone, and trachea. The condition was critical, as profuse blood loss and airway obstruction could lead to hypovolemic shock, an emergency state where the body's tissues and organs do not receive enough oxygen and nutrients to function properly.
The team, comprising experts from various departments, performed multiple emergency surgeries that saved the boy's life and restored his appearance and facial functions. Dr. Nageswaran, HOD and Senior Consultant, Department of ENT, explained that the patient was put on mechanical ventilation, primary suturing was done in the face and neck to stop active bleeding, and multiple blood transfusions helped stabilize the patient. The ENT surgeon performed tracheostomy, a surgical procedure in which an incision is made in the front of the neck, and a tube (tracheostomy tube) is inserted into the opening, creating an alternative airway for breathing. Wound closure was done in layers by the plastic surgeon with utmost precision to minimize scar formation, ensuring a lower rate of infection, improved cosmetic outcome, and prevented swelling from obscuring landmarks.
Dr. Jibreel Oysul, Head and Senior Consultant, Department of Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery, said that fractures of the maxillary and mandibular bones were treated using advanced techniques involving open reduction (OR) and internal fixation (IF), using titanium plates and micro screws. The oral and maxillofacial surgical team corrected issues related to the alignment and positioning of the maxilla and the various movements of the lower jawbone, known as the mandible.
After the reconstruction of fractured facial bones, the patient's condition started to improve gradually, and he was discharged within about a week, leading a normal life. The expert team at Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre has a track record of reducing morbidity associated with maxillofacial injuries by utilizing state-of-the-art advancements in trauma management and reconstructive surgery.