Chennai, 2022: A 35-year-old man from Chennai was brought to Promed Hospital in an unconscious state with laboured breathing. He is the sole breadwinner of the family with two kids residing near Kovalam on ECR road. He is working in a private restaurant in ECR as a system administrator. On 16th March 2022, around 5 pm while on his way to home on a two-wheeler, he met with a major road traffic accident near Kovalam. He had collided with a lorry. He was rushed to Promed hospital for emergency treatment.
On arrival, the Patient was attended by the Critical care team. On examination, the patient had maxillary bone fractures, his upper set and lower set of teeth were broken. Another CT scan of his face showed a fracture of the inferior nasal spine and a lacerated upper lip, His intubation was difficult since he had multiple fractures. Completing the basic blood investigations, he was found to have high blood pressure, difficulty in breathing and he was put on a ventilator.
A multidisciplinary team consisting of Critical Care consultation, ENT, Internal Medicine, Orthopedic surgeon, Urology, Neurosurgery, and Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon was formed to provide treatment to the patient. He underwent critical procedures including pelvic external fixation, closed reduction and wrist spanning external fixator on the left side, closed reduction and K-wire fixation of the right wrist. He was administered general anesthesia and a tracheostomy was carried out on the patient to deliver oxygen to the lungs as he was not able to breathe normally after the accident.
Post-procedure, the patient was gradually weaned from mechanical ventilation, and his neurological status improved. Tracheostomy decannulation was done and the patient was able to take spontaneous breaths and phonate well. The patient had a few episodes of delirious behaviour for which a psychiatrist’s opinion was obtained and orders were followed. After going through 31 days of intensive treatment, the Patient was discharged. After the constant close outpatient management and follow-ups for two months, the patient is now able to walk and perform his activities on his own and is ready to join work.
“Road accidents contribute to 83% of all traffic-related deaths in India and in particular motorbike accident is the major cause of death resulting from polytrauma,” said Dr. Spoorthi Arun, Managing Director, Promed Hospital. The Multidisciplinary team efforts starting with Critical & Intensive care, Ortho, Trauma & Emergency Care, Surgical Team, Pulmonology, Radiology, and Microbiology helped the patient to limp back to normal. “It gives us immense pleasure to see our patient returning to normal life after being treated for polytrauma,” added Dr. Spoorthi Arun
“I’m very much thankful to the doctors at Promed Hospital, Chennai for giving me a new lease of life and supporting me throughout the recovery phase,” said the patient.