Unique treatment saves diabetic patient's leg from amputation

In May, Mr Lau Mingjie stepped on a metal nail and injured his foot. Subsequently, his foot became swollen, and he came down with a high fever and had to be admitted to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH).

- Zhaki Abdullah

The foot had become gangrenous - a condition where body tissue dies as a result of a lack of blood flow or bacterial infection.

As a result, the 42-year-old, who works in his family's renovation firm, had to have the second and third toes on his right foot as well as parts of his forefoot amputated.

Despite this, the gangrene continued to progress. Mr Lau also learnt that he had Type 2 diabetes, which affects wound healing. Consequently, he faced the possibility of having his entire right leg below his knee removed.

"I couldn't accept for it to be cut off," he said.

It was then that Adjunct Associate Professor Chen Yongsheng, an orthopaedic trauma surgery consultant at NTFGH, presented Mr Lau with an alternative treatment called transverse tibial transport (TTT).

The procedure involves drilling into the tibia, or shin bone, and attaching a small device that can mimic the effects of a fracture.

Just as with an actual fracture, this "controlled fracture" results in stimulated bone growth and increased blood flow to the affected area, aiding recovery from the infection, Prof Chen said during a media briefing on Dec 12.

Prof Chen said that while the procedure is relatively new in Singapore, it has been performed elsewhere in recent years.