National Hospital for Tropical Diseases reconstructs feet after heat-induced necrosis

A 48-year-old man in Hanoi, identified as L. V. K., nearly lost both feet after attempting to treat numbness and coldness in his feet with home-applied heat. The self-treatment led to swelling, inflammation, and extensive necrosis across both soles.

After initial treatment failed to stop the progression of the necrosis, the patient was transferred to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Medical teams performed multiple debridement procedures to remove necrotic tissue and control infection. The damage was severe, resulting in the loss of three toes on one foot and deep soft tissue defects covering approximately half of the surface area of both soles, exposing tendons and underlying structures.

To restore functionality, doctors utilized microsurgical free flaps to reconstruct both feet simultaneously. Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Linh noted the complexity of the case, as the reconstruction had to account for the weight-bearing and friction requirements of the soles. Following the surgery, the tissue grafts have survived well, and the patient is beginning rehabilitation to regain the ability to walk.