Toddler undergoes emergency brain surgery after severe head injury

A 27-month-old girl from Phu Tho, Vietnam, underwent emergency brain surgery after a seemingly minor fall resulted in severe traumatic brain injury. Initially, the child remained conscious after hitting her head on a hard floor, and a local hospital's CT scan identified an epidural hematoma in the left occipital region. The child was discharged for home monitoring.

However, her condition deteriorated rapidly a day later, characterized by persistent crying, loss of appetite, lethargy, and frequent vomiting. Upon being rushed to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, emergency CT scans revealed a progressing injury: a 3.8 x 4.2 cm epidural hematoma with 2.5 cm thickness, surrounding brain edema, a fractured left occipital bone, and a new hematoma in the left posterior fossa.

Medical specialists, led by Dr. Ta Viet Phuong, performed emergency surgery to remove the hematoma in the posterior fossa. Three days post-operation, the child's health has significantly improved, with normal motor and cognitive functions returning.