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Tree Branch Impales Father's Face, Enters Brain
6 Aug
Summary
- A father fell from a ladder, impaling his face with a tree branch.
- The branch penetrated his nose and entered his brain without hitting vital tissues.
- Doctors successfully removed the branch through his cheek via a nasal approach.
A freak accident in South Jersey resulted in a 45-year-old father, Troy Hathaway, being impaled by a tree branch through his face and into his brain. Hathaway fell approximately 8 feet from a ladder in his yard while trimming branches.
The tree branch entered his cheek and nose, extending into his brain. Medical teams at Jefferson Health's trauma center collaborated to devise a specialized surgical plan.
Neurosurgeon Chris Farrell led the team, opting to remove the large branch through the nose to avoid skull cutting. This intricate procedure was successful, with the branch removed without damaging critical tissues or causing bleeding.
Following the four-hour surgery, Hathaway sustained only minor stitches and bruising. He is expected to make a full recovery with no long-term effects on his breathing or vision. He has returned home and is on antibiotics, feeling fortunate to be reunited with his family.
