Ms. KD (62 years old, Cambodian nationality) had suffered from persistent back pain and numbness in her lower limbs for many years. She had visited several local hospitals seeking treatment but without success.
Traveling hundreds of kilometers to seek help from doctors in Ho Chi Minh City.
Thinking she would have to live with this pain for the rest of her life, the miraculous recovery story of her neighbor at the South Saigon International General Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City) ignited new hope, leading Mrs. D. to decide to seek treatment at a hospital in Vietnam in the hope of returning to a normal life.
Here, doctors ordered an MRI scan to determine the cause. The results showed that the patient had severe spinal degeneration, L3 spondylolisthesis, multi-level spinal stenosis from L3 to S1, along with L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1 disc herniation compressing the L4-L5-S1 nerve roots.
Doctors at South Saigon International General Hospital check the patient's condition (Photo: Hospital).
These injuries not only cause prolonged pain but also pose many potential risks.
"The patient's entire lumbar region has been severely affected due to complications from spinal degeneration causing nerve root compression. If this condition is not surgically treated, the patient has a very high risk of lower limb paralysis within a few years," shared Dr. Nguyen Hai Tam, Specialist in Neurosurgery and Spine Surgery.
A five-hour surgery and a remarkably fast recovery.
Immediately after the consultation, the Neurosurgery - Spine team, including Dr. Nguyen Hai Tam and Dr. Nguyen Tai Thien, collaborated with the Anesthesia and Resuscitation Department to perform surgery on Mrs. D. using spinal fixation and lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF).
The surgical team performed the TLIF technique on the patient (Photo: Provided by the hospital).
This is one of the advanced techniques in treating spinal stenosis, requiring doctors to have solid expertise and precise manipulation to avoid dangerous complications.
The challenge is even greater when the patient has underlying essential hypertension – a condition that makes blood pressure prone to abnormal fluctuations during surgery – increasing the risk of bleeding and cardiovascular complications.
During the 5-hour surgery, the doctors accessed the affected area from the back, cutting and reshaping the degenerated vertebrae to widen the spinal canal and completely relieve the compressed nerve roots.
Patients practice walking under the guidance and supervision of doctors (Photo: Provided by the hospital)
Next, the team replaced the three damaged discs with artificial discs and inserted eight specialized screws to stabilize the spine, aiming to prevent vertebral slippage.
Thanks to the close coordination of the team, blood loss was safely controlled. Post-operative examinations showed that the spine had regained its stability and there were no complications.
Just two days after the surgery, Mrs. D. was able to go about her daily activities and walk around gently with the support of a back brace.
After a week of intensive monitoring and stable health, she was discharged from the hospital and returned to Cambodia, much to the joy of her family.
Modern surgical techniques improve the quality of life for patients.
According to doctors, spinal stenosis often stems from spinal degeneration – a common condition in the elderly – causing persistent back pain, numbness in the hands and feet, and severely limiting mobility. If left undiagnosed and untreated, patients risk serious complications such as weakness, paralysis of limbs, or bowel and bladder dysfunction.
With the development of modern medicine, many surgical methods have emerged, offering new hope for patients. Among them, the TLIF technique stands out due to its ability to completely decompress the body, provide rapid pain relief, allow for early recovery, and be safe with a low complication rate.
The case of Ms. KD at the Neurosurgery - Spine Department of Nam Saigon International General Hospital is a testament to the expertise and effectiveness of this method.
With its team of experts and modern equipment, Nam Saigon International General Hospital is gradually becoming a trusted address for treating complex spinal diseases, not only for domestic patients but also for many foreign patients.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/vuot-hang-tram-km-tu-campuchia-den-tphcm-cap-cuu-2-chan-co-nguy-co-liet-20250911160650383.htm
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