The medical team of Guangxin Hospital rescued Noel E. Keane, a Palau swimmer. He underwent six operations before and after, and is now actively recovering and has returned to normal walking. (Photo courtesy of Guangxin Hospital) Noel E. Keane, who is only 15 years old, is a national swimmer in Palau. He holds 23 national swimming records in Palau (including 200,400,800 and 1500 freestyle, etc. ) and won the Palau President Tommy E last year.
The medical team of Guangxin Hospital treated Palau's national swimmers and performed 6 operations before and after.
After the accident, his wound was seriously infected and even in danger of amputation. In Palau, he can only receive initial debridement and fixation, and needs further surgical treatment. He was immediately transferred to Taiwan Province by a medical chartered flight with the assistance of Palau's President's Office and the help of the international rescue company Asia Flying Doctor. He received minimally invasive femoral fracture surgery, muscle repair and skin grafting from Dr. Chen Zha, director of orthopedics department of Guangxin Hospital, and experienced six operations before and after, which fully demonstrated his life.
Director Shi said that when the patient arrived at the hospital, he was seriously infected, shocked and had the possibility of amputation. In order to get the patient back to the playground, debridement was adopted to minimize the injury, and the thigh muscles were preserved. The femur was minimally invasive locked with intramedullary nails, and then it was taken out without surgery, which would not affect the patient's activities.
Noel E. Keane, a Palau swimmer, was seriously infected after being injured in a car accident. Fortunately, he went to Taiwan Province Guangxin Hospital for treatment and avoided amputation. (Photo courtesy/Guangxin Hospital) Dr. Chen Zhajun explained that the patient had two muscle fractures and a large area of skin defect. First, use a negative pressure aspirator to remove the hematoma of a severely infected wound. After two debridements, the muscle was restored to its original position, and the skin graft was 30X20cm. The application of PRP (autologous platelet plasma injection) can make the skin graft effect better, accelerate muscle healing, that is, early recovery, which is helpful to early recovery.
After the full rescue of Guangxin Medical Team, Noel was successfully discharged from the hospital this week. Now he is actively recovering and has returned to normal walking. Looking forward to the future, he hopes to have the opportunity to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and continue to win glory for Palau's swimming events.