Vietnamese surgeon conducts world’s first limb transplant from living donor

Prof. Dr. Senior Colonel Nguyen The Hoang, Deputy Director of Hanoi’s Central Military Hospital 108. Photo: Tat Son Dr Nguyen The Hoang gives a presentation on the transplant to the hospital Board of Directors. Photo: Files The successful transplant opens up new opportunities for treating patients with damaged limbs. Photo: Tat Son / VNP Doctors of Hanoi’s Central Military Hospital 108 and patient Pham Van Vuong. Photo: Files

Since completion of the surgery, Vuong, a 31-year-old worker who lost his hand in a work-related accident four years ago, feels as if he was living in a dream. Vuong can hold objects in his palm, which shows good signs of recovery. He now has to do physical activities guided by Dr Hoang.

Dr. Hoang, a talented expert in Vietnamese medicine, successfully performed thousands of microsurgery and free-flap reconstruction cases, which brought health and joy to patients in Vietnam and the world. In 2008, Dr. Hoang was among five experts who carried out the world’s first double arm transplant in Munich, Germany that made history in world medicine. The limb transplant from a living donor at Central Military Hospital 108, where Dr. Hoang has dedicated more than 30 years of his career, confirms the Vietnamese doctor’s expertise worldwide.

Being an experienced surgeon, Dr Hoang used to be the leader of the field surgical team during fierce fighting years on the Cambodian battlefield. Back then, Hoang, 22, had just graduated from the Military Medical Institute and volunteered to the be on the battlefield.

Dr Nguyen The Hoang and his colleagues perform the transplant. Photo: Files Dr Nguyen The Hoang and his colleagues successfully conduct the world’s first limb transplant from living donor. Photo: Tat Son Vuong now can move the fingers of his new hand. Photo: Tat Son Vuong is able to hold objects in his palm. Photo: Tat Son / VNP Dr Hoang helps Hoang practice physical activities. Photo: Tat Son / VNP Dr Hoang checks Vuong’s new hand. Photo: Files Patient Lo Van Sam, whose hand was amputated due to a workplace accident, is added to the transplant waiting list. Photo: Tat Son

Following Dr Hoang, we visited Nguyen Van Ty, a wounded soldier who lost both legs and has been treated at the hospital since 1981. Ty, also Hoang’s teammate on the Cambodian battlefield, has undergone three surgeries of lower-limb amputations and replacement, performed by Dr Hoang. Patient Nguyen Van Ty has now recovered.

Dr Hoang is currently treating Lo Van Sam from the Thai ethnic group in Son La province. After Vuong’s successful transplant, Dr Hoang is hopeful that he can graft a hand for Sam, whose hand was amputated due to a workplace accident.