A 19-year-old young man sustained damage to one eye and both his hands after picking up exploding homemade firecrackers

10/01/2022 07:59

Young man, T.T.H, 19-year-old from Hai Duong bought gunpowder to make his own firecrackers, suddenly it’s exploded when making. The patient’s family quickly took him to the provincial hospital for emergency care, but due to the severity of the injury, he was transferred to Viet Duc University Hospital (VDUH).

 

 

Dr.Nguyen Hong Ha, Assoc. Prof – Head of Department of Maxillofacial – Plastic – Aesthetics Surgery, VDUH said: on December 6th, the hospital received T.T.H with multiple injuries: brain associated with maxillofacial traumas, left ocular injury and complex lesions on both hands: amputated 1^st and 2^nd fingers on the right side; open fracture of first metacarpal bone and amputation of the distal phalanges 2^nd finger on the left side.

 

Due to the severe crushing injury of his hand, surgeons were unable to preserve it. Orthopedic surgeons performed stump revision of the 1^st and 2^nd finger on the right hand; fixed the thumb by inserting a K-wire, performed stump revision of the distal phalanges of index finger and thumb on the left hand. After that, a team of ophthalmologists treated the ocular injuries: enucleation of left eye and sutures of the right eyeball. Finally, a team of plastic surgeons treated the maxillofacial trauma: fixation of the maxillary bones with screw and splint. Currently, after surgery, the patient is alert and monitored at the Department of Maxillofacial, Plastic and Aesthetics, VDUH.

 

Accidents involving homemade firecrackers are often very severe. In fact, there have been many cases resulting in death or lifelong disability due to homemade firecrackers. Therefore, doctors recommend: people need to comply with the provisions of the law on the management and use of firecrackers; do not arbitrarily manufacture explosives and firecrackers, causing harm to themselves and society. At the same time, the government forces and schools need to spread propaganda and education to raise awareness and knowledge about the dangers of firecrackers and explosives for the people, especially students.