Tonia Sarno , a young nurse working for the 118 emergency health unit in Naples, was the victim of a serious road accident on the Naples ring road on January 27.
The woman was admitted to Cardarelli Hospital in critical condition after suffering severe facial trauma that resulted in the removal of much muscle and bone tissue, as well as significant portions of skin.
The doctors at the trauma center, led by Patrizio Festa , performed an initial operation to clean the tissues and ensure initial cleansing of the wounds.
In the following days, Sarno was transferred to the plastic surgery department. There, a team of professionals led by Roberto D'Alessio , in collaboration with maxillofacial surgeons coordinated by Maurizio Gargiulo , studied her case and planned a highly complex operation.
The surgery was performed by Roberto D'Alessio, director of the Plastic Surgery Unit at Cardarelli Hospital. "The procedure included reconstruction of the muscle and bone tissue of almost the entire left half of the face, all to reshape the left facial area that had been lost due to trauma," D'Alessio stated.
A surgical team composed of Dr. Razzano and Dr. Petroccione worked alongside their maxillofacial colleagues for over 13 hours, completing a microsurgical procedure that reconstructed the muscles, bones, and skin of the face. D'Alessio emphasized the complexity and rarity of this operation, both due to the severity of the trauma and the type of procedure performed.
Tonia Sarno will have to follow an intense rehabilitation program
Over the next few months, Sarno will undergo an intense rehabilitation program that will play a key role in restoring the functionality of his facial muscles.
The Department of Plastic Surgery at Cardarelli Hospital plays a key role in the management of patients who have suffered severe trauma or burns, as well as in the recovery of tissues after oncological operations. Every year, the department performs over 1000 highly complex operations, working in collaboration with colleagues from other surgical units.
