August 7, 2025
THANH HOA – Thanh Hóa Provincial General Hospital has successfully performed emergency surgery on a patient involved in a particularly serious and rare work-related accident.
The patient, a 27-year-old man residing in Vĩnh Lộc Commune, Thanh Hóa Province, was admitted in critical condition with a long metal object lodged deep in his nasal cavity.
CT scans and 3D imaging revealed that the object was a 7–8 cm long metal drill bit, curved like a fishhook. It had entered through the right nostril, completely pierced the nasal septum, and the hooked tip was deeply embedded in the left nostril.
The lower nasal turbinate was severely torn, and the nasal septum had a large perforation. Due to the complexity of the injuries, the patient was immediately scheduled for emergency overnight surgery.
The patient is checked after the surgery. PHOTO: VNA/VIET NAM NEWS
Dr. Nguyễn Văn Hòa, Head of the Head and Neck Unit, ENT Department, and chief surgeon, said: “This was an unusual surgical case, with the biggest challenge being the curved shape of the drill bit, resembling a fishhook. If the operation had not been handled precisely, the foreign object could have caused further tearing, damaged nearby structures, and led to profuse bleeding that would be extremely difficult to control.”
Fortunately, the drill bit did not deviate upward. Had it shifted just a few millimetres, it could have injured the eyeball or vital cranial base structures, Dr. Hòa added.
With the support of a modern endoscopic system, the surgical team proceeded with extreme precision at every step.
After 40 minutes, the doctors successfully removed the drill bit from the patient’s nasal cavity. The wound was thoroughly cleansed, and bleeding was carefully controlled.
The torn mucosa, particularly at the lower turbinate, was meticulously sutured. In addition, the team applied specialised biological haemostatic materials within the nasal cavity to promote healing and prevent complications.
According to the patient’s relatives, while operating a rock drilling machine, he was suddenly struck in the nose by a dislodged drill bit with great force. The impact caused severe pain, panic, and heavy bleeding. He attempted to remove the object himself, but was unsuccessful, resulting in even more profuse bleeding.
After receiving initial care at a lower-level health facility, the patient was transferred to Thanh Hóa Provincial General Hospital for emergency treatment.
Following over a week of intensive care, the patient has recovered well, with stable vital signs, and has now met the criteria for hospital discharge.