Indexing Title: RMUJER’s Medical Anecdotal Report [04-3]

MAR Title: Cutting Edge

Date of Medical Observation: June 8, 2004

Narration:

A male in his mid-twenties, who was profusely bleeding came to the Emergency Room after a fight with his neighbor, seeking for alcohol…a typical trauma patient. He sustained a slash injury on his right wrist so extensive that all the tendons and blood vessels were transected. His hand was barely connected to his forearm by merely two to three small groups of muscles and the skin. He was then immediately brought to the Operating Room for wound exploration. I then assisted my immediate senior, as we were assessing the extent of injury prior to formal exploration, we realized that we can only do as much but in reality the chances of gaining back normal functioning is nil.

The operation was a grueling experience. We had a hard time in identifying which connects to which. We then immediately called our team captain for help; only then that we were able to isolate the vessels and tendons one by one and apposed. It took us two and a half hours to repair the injuries. 

As I stepped out of the Operating Room, relatives approached me and started to throw questions regarding the operation and the possible outcome. I then told them that we did everything we could to restore the anatomy but function wise, we cannot tell based on the injuries he sustained. And perhaps rehabilitation afterwards can be of big help.  

Insights: (reinforcement, stimulus, discovery)

            As an aspiring Surgeon, we should know our anatomy by heart, so that no matter how severe the injuries or distorted the anatomy is, we can identify which is which.

            It takes a lot of experience and practice for one to have expertise.