Born with congenital tibial hypoplasia, an extremely rare malformation with almost no information available online, the family of Ms. Nguyen Thi Yen (Thanh Oai, Hanoi) was once bewildered, not knowing where to seek treatment.
Today, the little girl is 5 years old. Although she doesn’t feel pain in her leg, the congenital malformation prevents her from walking normally like her peers.
“When I searched online, there was almost no information about tibial hypoplasia. When I took my child for examination, the doctor also said this was one of the first cases treated at Xanh Pon General Hospital, so the family was very worried,” Ms. Yen shared.
In such cases, children undergo multiple stages of surgery to correct leg alignment, perform osteotomy, fixation, and limb lengthening.
Ms. Yen’s daughter has undergone one surgery and is now preparing for her second operation, which involves an orthopedic frame to straighten the bone axis.
The child receives free examinations from international experts, while surgical costs are covered by health insurance, alleviating financial worries for the struggling family.
According to the treatment plan, by around 8-9 years old, Ms. Yen’s daughter will be able to stand upright and walk almost normally.
Despite her malformation, the child remains active, cheerful, and attends school regularly, moving flexibly by kneeling when needed.
Ms. Yen’s family’s story is one of 30 cases screened at Xanh Pon General Hospital on November 21st.
This activity is part of a collaborative program with the Children Action organization, aimed at examining, treating, and surgically operating on children with complex musculoskeletal deformities.
According to data, since 2018, over 12,000 children nationwide have been screened and treated for musculoskeletal movement disorders at Xanh Pon General Hospital.
The main disease groups include bone cancer, short limbs or limb length discrepancy, pediatric spinal conditions, and complex congenital bone and joint deformities in children.
“These conditions often appear while the child is still in the womb or immediately after birth. If not detected early, children can face many serious complications,” informed Dr. Nguyen Minh Duc, MD, Head of the Lower Limb Orthopedic Trauma Department.
In reality, musculoskeletal deformities directly affect a child’s ability to walk, perform daily activities, and overall physical development.
Children with limb length discrepancy or short limbs will have difficulty walking, be unsteady, prone to falls, and may experience secondary issues such as early joint degeneration, back pain, scoliosis, or limb malalignment.
For bone cancer, if not detected and treated promptly, the disease can progress rapidly, causing metastasis, limb loss, or the risk of death.
Spinal deformities, if not intervened early, can also lead to severe kyphoscoliosis, spinal cord compression, affecting motor and respiratory functions.
In cases of late detection or incorrect treatment, children will have to live with mobility limitations, reduced social integration, and difficulties in learning and daily activities.
