Patient D is learning to walk with good recovery results, without complications of infection or transplant rejection. — Photo courtesy of the hospital

HÀ NỘI — For the first time, Vietnamese doctors have successfully performed a total femur replacement for the world's youngest cancer patient using personalised 3D-printed metal materials, designed and manufactured by a domestic team.

The eight-year-old boy, named T.M.D from HCM City, with bone cancer had his entire femur replaced with a 3D-printed metal one by doctors of Vinmec International Hospital. He is the youngest patient in the world to be treated with this method.

In October 2022, after a minor fall, D was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer in children, causing the tumour to invade the entire left femur.

Initial treatment options all carried high risks of amputation to save life or traditional bone grafting with the risk of infection and graft rejection, while bone cancer in children is rare and has a poor prognosis.

The boy’s entire femur was invaded by the tumour and had to be removed. However, the artificial bones currently available are mainly for adults and are not suitable for children's bodies.

After examination, Prof. Trần Trung Dũng, Vinmec Healthcare System, proposed replacing the entire femur with personalised 3D-printed materials for the child patient - an unprecedented solution for children.

The surgery was performed in May, using a 3D-printed implant that was custom-designed to fit the child’s body and could be adjusted as he or she grew. The entire design and manufacturing process was carried out by a team of domestic doctors and engineers.

Up to now, the patient is learning to walk with good recovery results, without complications of infection or transplant rejection.

According to Prof. Dũng, this is also the first time Vietnamese medicine has applied this technology to the world's youngest bone cancer patient.

Vinmec is currently the first medical facility in Việt Nam to apply personalised 3D printing technology in the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases.

Instead of using standardised artificial joints and bones, Vinmec designs them individually following to anatomical structure of each patient, based on CT-MRI data. This method helps optimise motor function, shorten recovery time and limit post-operative complications. — VNS