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| The surgery, which involved many complex techniques, lasted nearly 4 hours |
The patient, Mrs. P.T.X., 71 years old (An Cuu ward, Thuan Hoa district, Hue City), with a history of artificial hip replacement 17 years ago, and underwent revision surgery one year ago due to joint loosening.
For the past 4 months, the patient has experienced increasing pain while walking and has had to use a walking stick, making movement difficult and significantly reducing her quality of life. Through examination and diagnostic imaging, doctors noted widespread bone loss, a fracture around the artificial hip joint, a broken fixation device, axial deviation, and limb shortening by over 7cm. This was a severe and complex injury with a high risk of limb dysfunction if not intervened promptly.
After being admitted to the Department of Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine, under the Orthopedic Trauma - Plastic Surgery Center at Hue Central Hospital, the patient was scheduled for a revision hip replacement and replacement of more than half of her femur using a Megaprosthesis.
“Megaprosthesis is a complex technique that requires high professional expertise and maximum coordination between various specialties: joint surgery, anesthesia and resuscitation, diagnostic imaging, and rehabilitation. This ensures the accuracy and thoroughness in the cutting and implantation of artificial grafts. The Megaprosthesis technique is considered the optimal solution for severe injuries that previously had a high risk of limb amputation,” said Prof. Dr. Pham Nhu Hiep, Director of Hue Central Hospital.
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| Doctors presented flowers to congratulate the patient |
After nearly 4 hours, with maximum support in terms of personnel and modern equipment, the surgery, performed by Dr. Nguyen Nguyen Thai Bao, Head of the Department of Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine, and his team, was successful. It restored the limb's structure and function and equalized the length of both legs. After the surgery, the patient is recovering well, able to stand independently, and has begun rehabilitation.
Prof. Dr. Pham Nhu Hiep acknowledged and highly praised the efforts, expertise, and mastery of advanced techniques by the team from the Department of Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine. Basically, in Vietnam, limb preservation for bone cancer patients has primarily been performed using biological methods (bone grafting, bone lengthening according to the Ilizarov principle, etc.). With the Megaprosthesis technique, the biggest advantage is that patients can walk and move immediately after surgery, instead of having to wear a frame or crutches for over a year compared to the old method.
Currently, a few long-standing hospitals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have implemented this technique, and Hue Central Hospital is the first hospital in the Central – Central Highlands region to effectively implement the Megaprosthesis technique. The application of this technique is not only an effective treatment solution for cases such as extensive bone fractures, bone loss, and complications after joint replacement, but also opens up new hope for patients with bone cancer and complex bone injuries who previously faced limb amputation, helping to improve mobility and contribute to enhancing the quality of life for patients.