This is the first time this technique has been performed in Vietnam, opening up new hope for young patients with serious spinal injuries.
On January 1, the Orthopedic and Spinal Trauma Department of Bach Mai Hospital admitted a 25-year-old male patient who had a traffic accident. He fell off his motorbike and landed headfirst on a hard surface, resulting in severe neck pain. After examination and X-rays, doctors determined that he had a fracture of the odontoid process - an important structure in the movement of the cervical spine.
Dr. Nguyen Van Trung - Deputy Head of the Department of Orthopedics and Spine - said that a fracture of the odontoid process is a dangerous injury that can easily lead to displacement, non-union of the bone and has a high risk of causing spinal cord paralysis, leaving serious sequelae. Conservative treatment methods often have a failure rate of up to 85%.
Instead of using the traditional open surgery method, the doctors decided to perform endoscopic screw surgery directly into the odontoid process through an incision in front of the cervical spine. This is an advanced technique that helps preserve the natural movement of the C1-C2 joint (this joint is responsible for 50% of the neck's rotation ability), while reducing the risk of infection, reducing blood loss and shortening recovery time.
The surgery requires a highly skilled medical team and good coordination because the neck area contains many large blood vessels and important organs.
Dr. Nguyen Van Trung - Deputy Head of the Department of Orthopedics and Spine added that this is the first successful endoscopic direct screw surgery of the odontoid process in Vietnam.
Just one day after surgery, the patient was able to sit up, walk and eat normally without feeling any discomfort or limited movement in the neck. The small incision of only about 1 cm left almost no trace.
Previously, open surgery often fixed the C1-C2 vertebrae, limiting the natural movement of the neck and easily leading to degeneration of adjacent joints. Endoscopic surgery not only overcomes these limitations but also maintains the rotational mobility of the neck, especially suitable for young patients.
Associate Professor, Dr. Hoang Gia Du - Head of the Department of Orthopedics and Spine, commented: "Direct endoscopic screw surgery of the odontoid process is a big step forward, bringing high efficiency with a success rate of 90-95%. This technique is not only an achievement of the medical team but also opens up opportunities for safe and advanced treatment for many patients in Vietnam without having to go abroad for treatment."
