The Vinmec Healthcare System has successfully performed a complete femur replacement for a pediatric cancer patient, using personalized 3D-printed materials. This is the first biomedical product to be designed and manufactured domestically, marking a significant milestone in the application of precision medicine in Vietnam.
A Journey of Refusing to Give Up
In October 2022, after a minor fall, little Trần Minh Đức from Ho Chi Minh City began experiencing pain in his left thigh. At first, his family thought it was just a simple injury. But the medical results were devastating — Đức was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer, and the tumor had already invaded his entire femur. This disease is more common in teenagers, but is rare and particularly dangerous in young children.
Given the severity of his condition, most medical facilities presented two options: amputation to save his life or traditional bone grafting. Both carried high risks of rejection and infection, especially for a child still growing. Refusing to let her son lose his leg, Đức’s mother, Xuân Hoàng, was determined to find another path. For nearly two years, she took him to hospitals big and small, continued his chemotherapy, carried him to school each day, and spent her nights poring over medical literature and contacting doctors both in Vietnam and abroad.
She shared: “Every day, my son asks: ‘Will I be able to walk again?’ I can’t answer that if I give up. My child deserves a full and happy childhood.”
Hope finally appeared when she met Prof. Dr. Trần Trung Dũng, Chairman of the Musculoskeletal Specialization Council at the Vinmec Healthcare System. There, a treatment plan never before attempted for such a young patient was proposed — complete femur replacement using personalized 3D-printed material, designed and manufactured right in Vietnam.
A “Historic” Surgery with Vietnamese Technology
According to Prof. Dr. Trần Trung Dũng, the tumor had invaded Đức’s entire femur, making complete removal necessary to save his life. However, all commercially available artificial joints were unsuitable for the body of such a young patient.
After multiple multidisciplinary consultations involving orthopedic surgery, oncology, diagnostic imaging, pathology, and clinical pharmacy, the Vinmec medical team agreed on an optimal two-stage surgical plan:
Stage 1 (January 2024): Remove the entire tumor and temporarily implant a cement bone.
Stage 2 (May 2025): Replace the entire femur with a customized 3D-printed metal implant.
On January 29, 2024, Đức underwent the first surgery, during which the tumor was completely removed and a cement bone was temporarily placed. By May 2025, once his health had stabilized, he received a fully customized 3D-printed metal femur implant — marking the first time this technology has been applied to such a young patient and the first time the implant was produced domestically. The surgery was a collaborative effort between Vinmec doctors and engineers from VinUni University. The artificial femur was designed in a modular format, allowing it to be lengthened as the child grows.
Dr. Trần Đức Thanh, one of the surgeons directly involved, shared: “We contacted several foreign manufacturers but could not find a suitable design. Creating the device ourselves not only gave us autonomy in treatment but also opened a new path for Vietnam’s medical field.”
According to Prof. Dr. Trần Trung Dũng: “The 4-hour surgery was a success. Đức recovered quickly, experienced no complications, and was able to walk with the support of physical therapy. This was not only a breakthrough in complex surgical techniques but also a testament to the seamless coordination among multiple specialties. The young patient’s life was saved, and his limb preserved.”
Vinmec Leads the Way in Personalized Precision Medicine in Vietnam
From a boy once facing the prospect of amputation and a lifetime of dependency, Minh Đức can now walk on his own legs with the support of physical therapy, free from any infection or graft rejection. Each step he takes is the embodiment of precision medicine, advanced technology, and a mother’s unwavering love.
"When my son stood up, I was both happy and trembling. It’s been almost two years since he last walked. But he did it. I just hope that soon he can ride a bike and play football like his friends," Đức’s mother, Ms. Hoàng, shared emotionally.
Prof. Dr. Trần Trung Dũng said: “We believe that modern medicine must go hand in hand with compassion. Đức is not just a special medical case, but also a story of perseverance, maternal love, and the belief that what seems impossible can still happen if we refuse to give up.”
Vinmec is currently one of the pioneering healthcare systems in Vietnam to apply personalized 3D printing technology in the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases. Instead of using standardized devices, Vinmec designs customized artificial joints and bones for each patient based on CT and MRI data, thereby optimizing mobility, enhancing precision, and shortening recovery time.
To date, Vinmec has successfully treated many complex and rare cases, such as liver transplantation for an 8-month-old infant from a brain-dead donor, chest wall reconstruction with 3D-printed titanium, and simultaneous pelvis and femur replacement using 3D-printed bones.
With continuous breakthroughs and remarkable achievements in applying advanced technology and precision medicine, Vinmec reaffirms its aspiration to elevate Vietnam’s healthcare to the global stage. Vinmec – a place not only for healing but also for shaping the future.
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