"Miracle" of limb regeneration for bone cancer patient in Vietnam.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - No longer having to accept the "verdict" of limb amputation, thousands of bone cancer patients in Vietnam now have the opportunity to preserve their bodies and regain mobility thanks to Made in Vietnam 3D printing technology.

Professor and Doctor Tran Trung Dung, General Director of Vinmec Healthcare System, shared information about 3D bone printing technology that can help cancer patients (Photo: VinFuture).

When technology rewrites the fate of patients.

Previously, in cases of complex, invasive bone cancer, especially in difficult locations like the pelvis or femur, doctors were often forced to recommend amputation to save the patient's life.

Traditional methods such as autogenous bone grafting, allogeneic bone grafting, or biocement often fail to provide adequate structural support for large injuries, leading to the risk of permanent disability and persistent emotional distress for patients.

"Many patients and their families do not accept the amputation of body parts. Therefore, reconstruction is extremely important," shared Professor Tran Trung Dung, General Director of Vinmec Healthcare System, at the seminar "Advances in Disease Detection, Diagnosis and Treatment" organized by the VinFuture Foundation on the morning of December 3rd.

Professor Dung cited a case from six years ago involving a patient with bone cancer that had invaded the femoral head and pelvis. At that time, ordering 3D-printed hip and pelvic joints from abroad was difficult, and in some cases, they were unsuitable, leading to the need for a second surgery.

However, that story changed in 2024 with the establishment of the 3D Printing Center at VinUni University.

This technology allows for the precise shaping of the sternum, jawbone, and complex pelvic structures for implantation.

3D-printed materials help to measure and create "perfectly fitting" implants for each patient. Professor Dung said that the teams at Vinmec and VinUni have supported approximately 1,000 cases, especially bone cancer patients, thanks to interdisciplinary collaboration between doctors, engineers, and oncologists.

Instead of using ill-fitting pre-made implants, doctors use the patient's own CT and MRI imaging data to create a 3D bone model. From this, an implant made of an alloy (usually titanium) is printed with absolute precision, perfectly fitting the patient's anatomy.

The effectiveness of this method has been proven in practice. A patient with pelvic cancer who was at risk of paralysis underwent surgery to replace the entire affected area with a 3D-printed pelvis.

As a result, after two years, the patient was able to walk normally without complications. Similarly, cases of complete femoral reconstruction helped patients retain their legs, something that was previously considered impossible.

The key to Vietnam's success

What sets Vietnam apart is its "on-site design studio" model.

According to Professor Dung, the implants are created not only with the correct shape but also optimized for the surgical process. Patients do not need to wait for orders from abroad, minimizing risks such as size errors that would require re-operation.

To date, the Vinmec team has supported approximately 1,000 patients, with 80% of the 3D-printed filament products for bone in Vietnam being domestically produced, offering hope for patients with bone cancer, bone loss due to injury, or congenital deformities.

Decoding the cost problem

Globally , the cost of a 3D-printed implant can range from $30,000 to $60,000 (equivalent to hundreds of millions to billions of Vietnamese dong), a figure far beyond the reach of most Vietnamese patients, especially since health insurance does not yet cover this item.

However, Vietnam has found a solution to "democratize" this high technology based on three pillars:

Artificial intelligence (AI) application: Previously, it took engineers 2-7 days to design an implant. Now, with AI support, the time has been shortened to less than 2 hours. This significantly reduces design personnel costs.

Networking: By connecting hospitals, printing batches are consolidated for simultaneous processing (10-20 implants can be printed at the same time). This helps to break down machine operating and material costs, reducing the price per unit.

Technological independence: Designing and printing domestically eliminates the expensive intermediary costs of foreign companies.

Beyond simply treating patients domestically, 3D bone printing technology is making Vietnam a bright spot on the regional medical map.

By mastering the entire process from diagnosis and design to production, Vietnam is aiming to expand support for patients in Southeast Asian countries – where the need for treatment is high but the cost of international healthcare remains a barrier.

Professor Tran Trung Dung commented: "The future presents an opportunity to offer comprehensive solutions. From reconstructing the sternum and jawbone to complex joints, 3D printing technology is truly paving the way for an era of 'personalized' treatment, where each patient has the best chance of complete healing."

The VinFuture 2025 Science and Technology Week will take place from December 2nd to 6th in Hanoi.

With the theme "Together We Rise - Together We Prosper," this year's annual international event series continues to affirm VinFuture's mission of connecting knowledge, inspiring a desire to serve, and elevating Vietnam's position as a global center for promoting science and innovation.

The week includes seven main activities: Inspirational speeches, Science for Life panel discussions; a series of dialogues exploring the future of VinFuture; the "The Touch of Science" exhibition; the VinFuture awards ceremony; interaction with the winners of the VinFuture 2025 awards; and VinUni - Leadership Forum: Conference on Innovation in Higher Education.

The highlight of the event was the VinFuture 2025 Awards Ceremony, held on the evening of December 5th at the Ho Guom Theater (Hanoi). This event honored outstanding scientific achievements that have a positive and sustainable impact on millions, even billions, of people worldwide.

This year, the award will be given to projects that bring the value of "Together We Rise - Together We Prosper" to humanity, in line with the theme, affirming VinFuture's mission of honoring intellect, spreading human values, and serving life.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc/phep-mau-tai-sinh-tu-chi-cho-benh-nhan-ung-thu-xuong-tai-viet-nam-20251203152923306.htm