After the fall, Tan’s family took him to a medical facility for treatment and wound suturing. However, three days later, the wound swelled significantly, accompanied by fever, and Tan was unable to walk. His family then brought him to Tam Anh District 7 General Clinic.

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Son Vu, a specialist in pediatric surgery, diagnosed that a wood splinter about 2 cm long remained in the boy's thigh. The wound had been sutured closed, preventing pus from draining, which led to the accumulation of an abscess. This abscess was leaking foul-smelling fluid due to anaerobic bacteria commonly found in dirty water and mud. Tan was experiencing fever and severe pain, making him unable to walk because the abscess was compressing muscles and nerves. The patient faced risks of sepsis, necrosis, and tetanus, prompting his transfer to Tam Anh General Hospital Ho Chi Minh City for further treatment.

Dr. Vu performed an incision to remove the wood splinter, drained all the pus, thoroughly irrigated the infected area, and placed a drainage gauze to ensure all accumulated debris was cleared. Following the procedure, Tan received a tetanus vaccine and was prescribed antibiotics for 10 days to control the infection. One week later, the swelling subsided, and Tan was able to walk again.

Dr. Vu (center) performing surgery on a child injured in a fall. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

According to Dr. Vu, Tan not only suffered a puncture injury from the wood but also faced a risk of drowning when he fell into the pond. Ponds and other water bodies pose inherent dangers to children, often containing sharp objects such as rocks, branches, and small wooden planks. Materials like wood, plastic, or glass fragments are often radiolucent, making them difficult to detect on X-rays and thus easily overlooked during initial examinations.

To prevent falls and related injuries, Dr. Vu advises parents against leaving children to play unsupervised. He recommends installing barriers and protective netting in hazardous areas within the home, such as staircases, windows, and ponds. If a child experiences a minor scrape from a fall, parents should clean the wound with clean water or saline solution, then disinfect it. For more severe injuries, parents must take their child to a hospital for proper examination and treatment.

Dinh Lam

*Patient's name has been changed