Mr. Luigi Fedele now has one more reason to feel satisfied with his decision to come live and work in Danang, Vietnam. With the appropriate therapy and timely surgery, the discomfort and pain caused by prolonged spinal disc herniation have disappeared for him.
“I’m recovering very well. Walking without crutches is an amazing feeling” – these words in a letter from Mr. Luigi Fedele (70 y/o, American) on January 2 nd 2018 very much heartened Dr. Le Nghiem Bao, Head of General Surgery Department, Vinmec General Hospital in Danang.
Just a week ago, movement for this American patient was very difficult. For many months, he had persistent back pain which had spread to his left leg. Despite medication and chiropractic therapy for his spine in America, his condition did not improve.
The results, after in-depth visit to Danang Vinmec, showed that he had spinal disc herniation in the L4-L5 segment. His doctors at Danang Vinmec commenced physical therapy combined with with painkillers, muscle relaxants, and inflammatory medication. After 20 days of treatment, Dr. Bao used his expertise in treating surgical neurological-spinal conditions and concluded that the patient would benefit from surgery. Stating that, “without surgery, the pain will be prolonged. The spinal disc herniation will potentially become enlarged, causing paralysis to the right L5 nerve. This will lead to motor impairment of the front part of the patient’s foot, causing him to, drag his toes, or affect the cauda equina nerves causing severe complications such as dysuria or paraplegia.”
Using an MRI 3.0 scanner, small injuries in conjunctival lumbar vertebrae, usually undetectable, were spotted. High blood pressure and the overweight condition of the patient were also assessed in the pre-surgical tests and medical treatments.
After physical therapy and a follow-up of the patient’s condition, Dr. Le Nghiem Bao assigned the patient for surgery to avoid complications.
The surgery took place on December 27 th 2017, when Mr. Fedele’s physical condition was the most stable. With a cut of just 5cm, Dr. Bao and the anesthesiologist and his team completely removed the herniated disc in the right L5 nerve, preventing all complications. With the lumbar spine kits, the new model of C-arm optic illuminator helped better control the injured region so that the surgery was able to take place with precision and safety.
,On the day following the surgery, the patient was helped to get up and exert himself lightly. After 3 days, he was discharged, with comfortable movements, no pain without painkillers.
At the end of 2017, the patient reported no more pain or discomfort. Mr. Fedele was able to express his relief and gratitude by way of letter in which it states “I’m grateful to have met such an amazing doctor. Him and his team’s expertise and professionalism made me very comfortable before and after the surgery. The doctors and nurses in the hospital were very kind, professional, always had smiles on their faces.”
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