Successful surgery for rare thoracic spinal cord tumor

Bà Võ Thị X. đã hồi phục sức khỏe tốt sau phẫu thuật thành công Ms. Vo Thi X. has recovered well after successful surgery.

Ms. Vo Thi X. has had back pain, numbness, and stiffness in both legs for about a year. 3 months ago, Ms. X. visited a medical facility outside the province and was diagnosed with a herniated disc and treated with medication but there was no improvement.

On May 16, 2023, Ms. X. was admitted to Nguyen Dinh Chieu Hospital to request surgery for a herniated disc. When admitted to the hospital, she was numb and had lost sensation from the navel down to her feet. Her legs were very weak, her muscle strength was only 2/5, she had difficulty walking, and was transferred to the Department of Neurosurgery.

At the Department of Neurosurgery, after approaching the patient, through clinical examination and reflex testing, the doctors suspected a tumor in the thoracic spinal cord. Doctors conducted a deep examination using an MRI machine and discovered a spinal cord tumor in the spinal column. The tumor was compressing the spinal cord, causing loss of control over the patient's ability to move the lower limbs, bladder and bowel function, and sensation.

On May 19, 2023, after 3 hours of surgery, the team removed a 2cm tumor, ensuring the patient's safety. If the tumor is not removed in time, the disease can progress and cause hemiplegia.

The success of the surgery is an initial encouraging result for the patient and the doctor. The tumor is currently being tested for pathology. After the surgery, the patient's condition has improved significantly. Ms. Vo Thi X. happily shared: "My back pain, numbness, and stiffness in both legs have decreased and I can sit up and walk normally. My health is recovering well after the surgery and I hope to be well enough to go home soon."

Head of the Department of Neurosurgery, Nguyen Dinh Chieu Hospital, Nguyen Huu Huu, said: Thoracic spinal cord tumor is a rare disease and difficult to perform. Surgery requires meticulousness and high precision down to the millimeter because the diameter of the spinal cord is very small. Modern equipment is needed in diagnosing and performing surgery.

With a system of modern equipment and machinery such as: MRI, CT, C-arm (tumor locator), surgical microscope along with mastering techniques, Nguyen Dinh Chieu Hospital has deployed spinal cord tumor treatment techniques for the past 3 years.

The success of the surgeries has marked another step forward in the diagnosis and treatment of difficult diseases, as well as gradually affirmed the skills of the provincial medical team. This has created peace of mind and trust for patients in the care and treatment right at the local level.

News and photos: Phan Han

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