Successful hip replacement using 3D printing technology for 12-year-old patient

Nguyen Ngoc N. (12 years old, Phu Tho ) had an accident and broke his left femur. Although he had undergone bone fusion surgery with a screw at a central hospital, after 6 months, his condition worsened. He limped, had a severe scoliosis, and had a distinct difference in his legs, which greatly affected his ability to study and play.

When the family took N. to Vinmec Times City International General Hospital, the doctors realized that this was a rare and complicated case. The girl was only 12 years old - an age when the bone structure is still developing strongly, but the femoral head had been largely destroyed, causing the body's axis to deviate and severe scoliosis. If not intervened early, the spine could be permanently deformed.

Specialist II Doctor Pham Trung Hieu, Head of the Department of Hip and Pelvic Surgery - Vinmec Times City Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center, said that in the world medical literature, there are only 2 cases of children aged 10 and 11 years old who had total hip replacement. And in Vietnam, this is the first case.

After 2 months of surgery, the patient can now walk normally, has a balanced figure, and no longer has a scoliosis.

The biggest challenge of the surgery is not only the small bone size and incomplete skeletal system, but also the prevention of joint looseness and leg length difference when the child continues to grow in the future.

With the experience of having successfully replaced artificial bones for a number of patients in Vietnam, experts, orthopedic trauma doctors, anesthesiologists at Vinmec held many consultations and decided to remove the entire hip joint bone. Then, replace it with an artificial hip bone made of Titanium alloy.

Before surgery, the Vinmec team of doctors simulated the entire hip bone structure using 3D technology, created a digital surgical plan (3D template) and produced a PSI (Patient Specific Instrument) positioning device specifically for the pediatric patient. Each cutting position, each inclination of the acetabulum and bone neck were calculated in detail down to the smallest deviation.

Specialist II Doctor Nguyen Van Vi, Head of Vinmec Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Department, said that the team used 3D imaging and motion sensors to identify weak muscle groups, thereby building a post-operative rehabilitation plan for the child. The goal is not only to help the child walk, but to walk with the most balanced and natural gait possible.

Thanks to careful preparation and coordination between specialists, the total hip replacement surgery was successful. Just 24 hours after surgery, N. was able to sit up by himself, practice walking with a support frame, and the VAS pain assessment scale was only 2 points - surprisingly low for a major hip replacement surgery.

After 2 months of surgery, the patient can now walk normally, has a balanced figure, and no longer has a scoliosis. The image analysis of the motor sensor shows that the motor function is over 90% compared to a normal person.

This is the first total hip replacement in Vietnam performed on a 12-year-old child, marking an important step forward in the field of pediatric orthopedics.

Previously, the team of Professor, Doctor, Doctor Tran Trung Dung; Specialist II Doctor Pham Trung Hieu and experts at the Center for Orthopedic Trauma and Sports Medicine performed surgery to replace the entire femur with 3D printed material for an 8-year-old bone cancer patient in May 2025. The doctors recreated the entire femur with 3D printed material, replacing the bone severely damaged by the tumor, helping to preserve the limb and motor function of the patient.

TRAN LAM

Source: https://nhandan.vn/thay-thanh-cong-khop-hang-bang-cong-nghe-in-3d-cho-benh-nhi-12-tuoi-post916040.html