China News Service, September 11 (Chen Jing, Jiang Rong) For an 11-year-old boy, "amputation" is nothing short of bad news.
However, after nearly 10 hours of collaborative efforts by Shanghai multidisciplinary experts, they successfully challenged the international high-difficulty surgery and used the ankle joint of the child to reconstruct his knee joint.
Wang Zhigang, director of the Department of Orthopedics at the National Children’s Medical Center and Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, told reporters on the 11th that the boy, Xiao Cai (a pseudonym), is currently in the recovery period after surgery. The reconstructed skin on the distal knee joint feels normal. Voluntary flexion and extension activities, which means success in the first stage of surgery.
"Xiao Cai will finally usher in the day when he stands up again!" Wang Zhigang was confident.
In June of this year, Xiao Cai was examined at a local hospital in Fujian because of knee pain in his right leg. He was suspected of suffering from a bone tumor. The doctor suggested that the knee should be amputated together, otherwise his life would be endangered.
At the Shanghai Children's Medical Center, the doctor diagnosed that Xiao Cai was suffering from osteosarcoma.
The doctors developed a systematic treatment plan for it.
Wang Zhigang told reporters that Xiao Cai’s tumor was located at the proximal tibia and invaded the epiphysis. The condition is very complicated and treatment is very difficult.
He admitted that according to Xiao Cai's situation, the knee joint could not be retained at all.
If a child undergoes traditional amputation (knee joint severance), even if relying on modern prosthetic engineering, his mobility and quality of life will still be low.
After a lot of thinking and meditation, Wang Zhigang boldly and creatively formulated a surgical plan-using the child's ankle joint to reconstruct his knee joint!
The anterior and posterior tibial arteries, which are the most important for reconstruction of the knee joint, are close to the tumor, so the operation is extremely difficult.
Before the operation, Director Wang Zhigang led the team to make repeated deductions and demonstrations.
On the day of the operation, “troubles” continued. The team of Professor Zheng Jinghao from the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery was ordered to solve the problem of small anterior and posterior tibial arteries; in order to rule out the possibility of thromboembolism in the distal blood vessels, emergency consultation in the hospital, cardiovascular medicine, ultrasound and other experts were all rush to the rescue.
Reorganize the sciatic nerve, finely butt the stump muscles of the thigh and calf, rebuild the knee extension and flexor muscle strength, fully free and dock the flaps and skin of the thigh and calf...The orthopedics team successfully used Xiao Cai’s ankle joint to “rebuild” "Picked up his knee.
Wang Zhigang, who has more than 20 years of clinical practice experience in orthopedics, told reporters, "I have encountered many intractable diseases and sincerely cooperated with all departments of the hospital. However, this operation is very meaningful, not only because it is a challenging international challenge. The coefficient of surgery is more because it embodies the wisdom and sweat of many subject experts!"
It is reported that Xiaocai still needs to go through a series of "breakthroughs" such as anti-infection, anti-swelling, physical rehabilitation, and chemotherapy. Medical social workers are actively helping her to recover physically and mentally. (Finish)