Successful Treatment of Osteosarcoma with Freezing Technology

On 23ʳᵈ August 2023, Penang Adventist Hospital achieved something remarkable: a special surgery on a 4-year-old patient with a rare bone cancer. This surgery, using a liquid nitrogen cryotherapy procedure (freezing technology) and recycling the patient's own bone, is quite rare in Malaysia, with only a few cases done before.

The patient had a type of bone cancer in the leg. Chemotherapy was carried out to shrink the tumour. After the chemo, the doctors found that the tumour was still there, and they needed to remove it. But there was a problem. The patient was still growing, and their leg was small. If they used an artificial implant, it could cause problems as the patient got older.

This extraordinary surgical feat was led by Dr. Prashant Narhari, Consultant Orthopaedic, Traumatologist, and Orthopaedic Oncologist at Penang Adventist Hospital, with invaluable assistance from Dr. Dinesh, Orthopaedic Oncology Fellow from Penang General Hospital. They decided to remove the tumour while saving the part of the patient's bone that was affected. They then cleaned this piece of bone very carefully, getting rid of the affected areas. Next, they froze it at super-cold temperatures to make sure any remaining cancer cells were eliminated. After that, they thawed it and put it back into the patient's leg.

To hold the treated bone in place, they used a special metal plate and screws. The whole surgery took about 3.5 hours, and amazingly, there were no complications. The patient went home just four days after the surgery, feeling much better.

This success was possible because of the incredible teamwork of the hospital staff, including the doctors, nurses, and many others who helped with the surgery and made sure everything went smoothly.

In the world of medicine, where new and advanced treatments are always being developed, Penang Adventist Hospital is dedicated to offering the best care possible. This unique surgery, using freezing technology and recycling the patient's bone, shows their commitment to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in healthcare.