On May 24, a 42-year-old woman named Ms. Lien was picking peppers alone in a field when she fell from a height of 6 meters due to an unstable ladder. She regained consciousness almost thirty minutes later and contacted her family to inform them of the incident. Initially, Ms. Lien was taken to a hospital in Dak Nong for emergency treatment before being transferred to a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.
After consulting with doctors at Tam Anh General Hospital, Ms. Lien was recommended to undergo spinal surgery due to multiple spine fractures in the L2 vertebra, resulting in nearly 50% reduction in the height of the vertebral body. The fractures had caused a broken fragment that protruded into the spinal canal, leading to spinal stenosis. Fortunately, Ms. Lien’s back landed first during the fall, so no head injury was observed.
The doctors decided to perform percutaneous screw surgery on Ms. Lien to stabilize her spine. The surgery was successful, and Ms. Lien was able to walk and had relief from pain just one day after the procedure. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital with no pain or numbness in her legs.
Dr. Huynh Tri Dung from Tam Anh General Hospital emphasized that falls can result in various serious injuries such as spinal damage, paralysis and traumatic brain injury . Around 30% of patients with spinal injuries caused by falls require emergency surgery . It is advised that individuals engaging in climbing activities ensure the stability of ladders and use protective equipment to prevent accidents
