Dragged Several Metres by Tractor, 21-Year-Old Woman Survives Life-Threatening Trauma After Complex 3-Hour Surgery

What began as a normal day for 21-year-old Suman (name changed) from Chiksoli village in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura district turned into a life-threatening ordeal when her clothes became entangled in the wheel of a tractor, dragging her several metres along the road.

The accident left her with multiple severe internal and external injuries, including a perforation (hole) in the intestine, a tear in the diaphragm (the muscle separating the chest from the abdomen) and extensive soft-tissue damage to her right leg.

She was brought to the hospital in hemorrhagic shock, a life-threatening condition caused by severe blood loss, with dangerously low blood pressure, a rapid heart rate, severe abdominal pain, breathing difficulty and uncontrolled bleeding from her injured right leg.

After local hospitals were unable to manage her critical condition, she was urgently referred to Sarvodaya Hospital, Sector 8, Faridabad. Recognising the severity of her injuries, a multidisciplinary team led by Dr Arjun Goel, Senior Consultant & Head (Unit II), General & Minimally Invasive Surgery, immediately initiated emergency treatment.

A Rare and Complex Injury

Investigations at the hospital revealed:

• Tear in the diaphragm, the muscle separating the chest and abdomen
• Stomach and a portion of the colon had shifted from the abdomen into the chest cavity
• Hole in the small intestine
• Several internal injuries
• Extensive damage to the skin and soft tissues of her right leg

The combination of severe blood loss, bowel injury and displacement of abdominal organs into the chest made the condition extremely critical.

Such traumatic diaphragmatic injuries with abdominal organs moving into the chest are uncommon and can be challenging to diagnose and manage, particularly when associated with multiple other injuries.

Emergency Surgery Saved Her Life

The nearly three-hour complex procedure involved:

• Repairing the torn diaphragm
• Returning the stomach and colon to their normal position in the abdomen
• Removing the damaged portion of the small intestine and reconnecting the healthy bowel
• Inserting a chest tube to drain accumulated air and fluid
• Removing damaged tissue from the severely injured right leg
• Applying vacuum-assisted therapy to support wound healing

Recovery After Critical Care

Following surgery, the patient was closely monitored in the intensive care unit and required multiple blood transfusions and comprehensive supportive care. Her condition gradually stabilised, and she was subsequently able to resume oral feeding.

She continued to recover steadily and is now independent in her daily activities, with an expected return to normal life.

The successful management of this case demonstrates the importance of early diagnosis, rapid decision-making, advanced surgical expertise and integrated trauma care in managing complex, life-threatening emergencies.