How Doctors Are Fighting For The Lives Of Children Injured In Urzhar Accident

Two children injured in a traffic accident in the Urzhar district of the Abay region remain under treatment at the capital’s Multidisciplinary Children’s Hospital No. 2, Orda.kz reports. The hospital provided details about their condition and the treatment ahead.

Open Fractures And Cerebral Hemorrhage

A nine-year-old girl and her six-year-old brother were brought to Astana in serious condition and immediately admitted to the intensive care unit, where they received intensive care. Their mother was hospitalized alongside them to help care for the children.

Deputy chief physician for medical care, Dinat Kozhekenov, explained the children’s injuries:

The girl has a displaced comminuted fracture of the right humerus. Her condition was complicated by a brain injury — fractures of the skull bones, and a cerebral hemorrhage. Because of this, she was placed on a ventilator. On the first day, there were signs of brain swelling. The boy has an open fracture of both shins. These are quite serious injuries, which is why they were brought to us.

The children are being treated by a multidisciplinary team.

The lead specialists are a traumatologist and a neurosurgeon, since the girl, in addition to the fracture, has a head injury. The team also includes surgeons, intensive care doctors, ophthalmologists, and ENT specialists.

The children were later transferred from intensive care to the trauma department — the boy first, followed by the girl on Sunday. But their treatment is far from over, as surgeries are still ahead.

In the future, both will need surgery after their conditions stabilize. Preparations are underway. The girl will likely undergo surgery tomorrow or the next day, depending on her condition. The boy will have his surgery once the wound is fully cleaned. Because open wounds can easily become infected, we are giving him a delay to avoid complications.

Children Saved From The Brink

Doctors remain cautious with their forecasts — not by accident, as both children had to be saved from the brink of death.

Yes, you could say that. Both children were admitted in a state of shock. They were delivered to the district hospital on time and given proper first aid, their condition was stabilized, and then they were transferred by air ambulance to Astana. I believe thanks to the efforts of doctors at every stage, we managed to save them. But much work still lies ahead.

Treatment tactics are still being determined. The full picture will only become clear after the operations.

On the X-ray, we only see shadows — the degree of displacement of the bones. We will know more during surgery: the extent of tissue damage, disruptions, and whether bones are torn or blood supply compromised. The level of wound contamination also matters greatly. Much depends on this.

The same applies to predictions for recovery and rehabilitation. Only after fully assessing the damage will doctors be able to estimate how long it will take for the children to walk again. For now, the fight for recovery continues.

There are always risks. The boy has an open wound that could become infected. Since it is caused by bone fragments, they too could become infected, leading to bone inflammation. To prevent complications, we are conducting antibacterial therapy. This takes time — we can only make accurate forecasts after the operation.

The doctor noted that the hospital has handled more complex operations where patients recovered successfully, but also cases where mild conditions led to complications. It’s all individual.

That’s why no one will give a 100% guarantee — everything will be clear only after the operation. But we have had much more severe cases, and, thank God, the children were discharged in good condition. We remain optimistic.

Psychologists Work With Patients And Their Mother

Hospital psychologists are working with both the children and their mother, which, according to Kozhekenov, is common practice.

We receive many patients with serious injuries of different types. Psychologists work with all of them, including parents.

The doctor noted that the children’s mother was admitted in a depressed and distressed state, but has gradually improved.

She follows our recommendations, understands the prognosis. I think she is slowly recovering from the shock. But as long as she sees her children in this condition, she cannot fully recover from the trauma. It is very hard for any parent to see their children like this. She will only truly find peace when they get back on their feet and are discharged.

For now, she does not wish to speak with journalists.

The girl and the boy are conscious, but due to post-traumatic pain syndrome, they, like all children, react sharply to stressful situations. They also require psychological support.

The children are receiving treatment free of charge.

Hundreds Of Patients Come To The Hospital Every Day

Multidisciplinary City Children’s Hospital No. 2 is the only facility in the city with a surgical department for children. It is designed for 400 beds, but currently 437 children are being treated there. According to Dinat Kozhekenov, the hospital receives between 700 and 900 patients a day. The highest influx was recorded in the summer of 2025.

In one day, 933 children came to us for medical help. In the summer, children are on vacation and spend more time outdoors. They come not only with injuries but also with other illnesses. At the same time, our city is growing rapidly, and the child population is also increasing — this must be taken into account. In addition, many visitors come to Astana during the summer, and for various reasons, some of them may need medical assistance. All this affects the patient load.

In total, 24,000 children receive inpatient care at the hospital each year, and about 17,000 surgeries are performed annually.

Our hospital is multidisciplinary, covering almost all surgical profiles. We carry out complex operations and regularly host international master classes. Our specialists also travel to the regions to provide consultations and take part in training sessions.

How The Accident Happened

The accident itself occurred on August 19 in the village of Besterek. A 55-year-old Toyota Camry driver struck children who were standing by the gate of a house just 10 meters from the road.

According to villagers, the driver suffers from epilepsy and heart disease. It is believed he may have suffered a seizure behind the wheel and lost control of the vehicle.

Six children were hit. Three of them — aged between two and eight — died. Three others survived but sustained serious injuries. They were diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, internal, and musculoskeletal injuries. One child underwent a complex neurosurgical brain operation.

At the president’s instruction, the injured children were transported by air ambulance to the capital. One girl, however, could not withstand the flight and was left in Urzhar District Hospital.

The driver is currently in a temporary detention facility. An examination confirmed that he was sober and not under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident.

Original Author: Zhadra Zhulmukhametova