IMSS restores face of 24‑year‑old motorcycle accident victim in Veracruz

Doctors at the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS) Hospital of Specialties No. 14 in Veracruz Norte rebuilt the face and nose of Katia N., a 24‑year‑old who suffered severe injuries in a motorcycle crash. The accident caused loss of roughly 40 % of the facial skin and total destruction of the nasal structure.

A multidisciplinary team—including trauma, otolaryngology, neurology and plastic‑reconstructive surgeons led by Dr. Andrés Torres Zamudio—performed a full nasal reconstruction and a flap‑rotation technique to restore tissue vascularization. After surgery Katia regained the ability to breathe through her nose and recovered both facial functionality and appearance. She and her mother, Yasmín, thanked the medical staff for the coordinated care.

The case highlights IMSS’s capacity for complex reconstructive procedures using advanced three‑dimensional modelling and underscores the hospital’s role in delivering high‑level specialty care in the region.