Cambodian Woman Facing Risk of Foot Amputation Finds New Life Thanks to Korean Medical Team

Able to Walk Again After 10-Hour Corrective Surgery

Medical Fees Virtually Waived Thanks to Social Work Team and Corporate Support

The medical staff of the Lower Limb Reconstruction Clinic at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital and the family of the patient Dteum Kuntea. Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital

A Cambodian woman in her twenties, who was facing the risk of bilateral foot amputation due to congenital clubfoot, vascular malformation, and an autoimmune disorder, found a new lease on life through a complex surgery at a Korean hospital.

On March 4, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital announced that it had successfully performed a clubfoot correction procedure and free flap reconstruction surgery for Dteum Kuntea, a 21-year-old patient.

Professor Lee Younggu corrected the congenital clubfoot deformities in both lower limbs to a normal foot shape through a correction surgery that lasted approximately 10 hours. The patient was able to regain the ability to walk.

However, Kuntea was not just a simple clubfoot patient; she suffered from a complex deformity that required bone osteotomy, joint correction, and bone grafting. At the time of surgery, the vascular malformation in her ankle area was severe. After the ankle joint correction, Professor Choi Eol, a vascular surgeon, performed an additional vascular reconstruction procedure.

During the recovery process after surgery, a new crisis emerged. Due to a diagnosis of rheumatoid lymphoproliferative disorder, an autoimmune disease discovered during hospitalization, wound healing was delayed and the skin on the tops and soles of both feet began to necrotize.

Professor Jung Hyunghwa of the Department of Plastic Surgery explained, "More than 80% of the skin on the right foot and over 50% on the left foot became necrotic in a short period. If reconstruction was not performed, bilateral foot amputation would have been unavoidable."

Therefore, Professor Jung performed two rounds of highly complex free flap reconstruction surgeries. Free flap reconstruction is a microsurgical procedure in which arteries and veins supplying skin and tissue are detached and then connected under a microscope to the blood vessels at the transplantation site.

Because this surgery requires precise anastomosis of blood vessels about 1mm in diameter, it was not possible to cover the entire foot with skin alone, so a composite tissue graft including skin and back muscle was performed. The presence of vascular malformations and autoimmune disease made both the surgery and recovery particularly challenging, but after about a month of intensive treatment, the flap graft stabilized and Kuntea was recently discharged.

Although the prolonged hospitalization and highly complex surgeries resulted in significant medical expenses, the medical staff charged little to no surgical fees, and the hospital significantly reduced the hospitalization costs. The hospital's social work team arranged for additional financial support for medical expenses, while Convatec and Ildong Pharmaceutical provided wound care materials worth 2 million won free of charge.

Kuntea said, "At first, I was terrified by the thought of losing my feet, but I will live my life forever grateful to the hospital and medical staff who have given me a new life."

Professor Jung stated, "Despite the difficult treatment process, the patient never gave up and actively participated in her treatment, which led to a good outcome. I hope she will continue to enjoy a healthy life upon returning to her home country."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.