Taiwanese Hospital Saves Woman's Leg from Amputation After Two Decades of Infection

A 50-year-old woman in Taiwan narrowly avoided leg amputation thanks to a multidisciplinary team at Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital. The patient had suffered from a chronic, non-healing ulcer on her lower leg for over two decades following an open fracture sustained in a car accident 20 years prior.

During examination, doctors identified "bone cement balls" remaining in the woman's bone marrow from earlier treatments. These implants, which had lost their infection-fighting properties over the years, had become a breeding ground for bacteria, leading to chronic osteomyelitis. The infection had progressed to a point where amputation was considered a serious possibility.

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The patient's wound was deep enough to expose bone. After plastic surgery evaluation, we suspected bone infection, and orthopedic examination revealed residual bone cement balls in the marrow.

To save the patient's limb, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Huang Chun-hsi led a meticulous treatment plan. This involved using arthroscopic and minimally invasive techniques to remove infected tissue and foreign objects from the bone. Plastic surgeon Dr. Chuang Chun-chi then performed flap reconstruction and skin grafting to repair the soft tissue defects.

The team combined antibiotic therapy with hyperbaric oxygen treatment, with pathologist Dr. Tseng Chih-en diagnosing the chronic osteomyelitis and pulmonologist Dr. Chu Yi-chun overseeing the hyperbaric oxygen sessions. This integrated approach significantly increased the chances of successful treatment. After more than a month of hospitalization and follow-up, the woman's wound healed, resolving the long-standing issue and allowing her to regain a good quality of life.

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The bone cement balls, used years ago for infection control, had lost their efficacy and become a breeding ground for bacteria, causing chronic osteomyelitis.