ADK: Surgery successful for expatriate worker impaled in the face with metal rod

ADK Hospital on Wednesday revealed that the surgery done on the individual who was impaled in the face with a metal rod was successful.

During the incident that occurred on September 15, in Male’ City, a 34-year-old migrant construction worker sustained injuries from a metal rod that dropped while workers were lifting a pile of metal to an upper floor of the construction site.

As per ADK, the patient was recovering after the surgery in which numerous senior doctors of the hospital took part.

Speaking with the press, Chief Medical Officer of ADK Dr Abdulla Niyaf said that the worker was pierced with a six-foot-long rod.

He also detailed that at the time of the incident, the worker had on safety gear including helmet and safety boots. However, he was impaled when he poked his head out and looked outside at the noise of the rods that were being lifted up to the sixth floor falling.

The Chief Medical Officer highlighted that post-surgery, the patient does not have any issues that need permanent treatment.

Also speaking about the incident, Neurosurgeon Dr Ali Niyaf said that the rod had pierced through the nose, hard palate, through neck and stomach, and ended at the pelvic cavity.

“It first touches the nasal bone and breaks through the hard palate. It then entered the neck, breaking through the posterior pharyngeal wall, and touches the spine. Three cervical vertebra are fractured, and the rod then penetrated the chest,” said Dr Ali Niyaf.

 Furthermore, he detailed that the rod then punctured through a lung, ruptured the right diaphragm, lacerated the liver, and penetrated the rectus abdominis muscle.

Additionally, the surgeon revealed that the doctors attained tools such as a glander in preparation for removing the rod. But he added that it was removed with six people, with utmost caution.

He also highlighted that the patient was extremely lucky as there was no bleeding from his lungs, nor was his intestines harmed.

The patient has been undergoing treatment for 11 days. After extensive repair and reconstructive surgeries, he has made a remarkable recovery and is able to speak and walk now.

The teams involved in the care of the patient are:

- ER Medical Officers and ER nursing team led by Dr Ahmed Ziyan

- Anesthesia, and OT nursing team led by Dr Dusooma Abdula Razzaq

- General Surgery and leading overall surgical team through surgery to post-op care led by Dr Ahmed Nishan 

- Emergency management of thoracic injury and haemopneumothorax led by Dr Shafiu and Dr Kaushal

- Polytrauma response led by Dr Shakeel

- Leading and managing extensive orofacial and neck injuries by Dr Nazif and Dr Bu'dhinath

- Spine fracture managed by Dr Ali Niyaf, Dr Kiran and Dr Robin 

- Radiology Department and radiodiagnostic technicians

- Urgent Massive Transfusion Team: Blood bank, nursing teams

- Surgical nursing team, Intensive Care nursing team

- Physiotherapy and rehabilitation team

Speaking about the incident, the Managing Director of ADK Hospital Ahmed Afaal said that safety in Maldivian construction sites needs strengthening. He went on to say that construction work needs to happen with extreme care for the safety of all those involved.