1cm piece of plastic 'worn' teacher for more than 2 months, doctor removed

A small piece of plastic lodged deep in the instep of a teacher's foot has caused misery for more than two months in Ho Chi Minh City.

Doctors removed the plastic piece, returning a teacher to normal life - Photo: Provided by the hospital

After more than 2 months of enduring pain because he thought it was just a soft tissue injury, tutor D.TP (45 years old, living in Nha Be, Ho Chi Minh City) had surgery by doctors at Saigon General Hospital to remove a foreign object deep in the instep of his foot. The successful surgery not only helped Mr. P. walk normally, but also gave him the opportunity to return to his teaching job.

Earlier on the morning of May 28, on his way to his student’s house, Mr. P. was suddenly hit by a car door that swung open, hitting his right foot hard. The impact caused his foot to swell and ache. Mr. P. was taken to a nearby medical facility for first aid, bandaged, and then released.

Thinking it was just a minor injury, Mr. P. bought painkillers and changed the bandage at home. But contrary to his initial thoughts, the wound became increasingly red, swollen, oozing, festering and constantly painful. "I thought it would heal in just a few days, but it got worse and worse. There were nights when I couldn't sleep because of the pain, I couldn't put my feet on the ground," Mr. P. said.

Due to his inability to walk, Mr. P. was forced to stop his tutoring job - his only source of income. Over the past two months, his life has been turned upside down.

On August 20, when he could no longer bear it, Mr. P. went to Saigon General Hospital. At the orthopedic and burn trauma department, after examination and X-ray, doctors discovered a foreign object deep in the instep of his right foot. Mr. P. was immediately scheduled for surgery.

Dr. Tran Hoa, Head of the Orthopedic and Burn Department, said: "The patient came in with a long-term infected wound. We suspected a foreign object and during surgery removed a piece of hard plastic measuring about 1cm x 0.8cm. This is the reason why the wound could not heal, causing swelling, pus and pain for over 2 months."

The surgery went smoothly. After only 5 days, the wound was dry and the swelling had significantly reduced. Mr. P. was able to walk again and was expected to be discharged soon.

From the above case, Dr. Hoa recommends: "When a patient is injured, if the wound is red, swollen, painful, and has pus that takes a long time to heal, they should immediately go to a higher-level medical facility for examination and accurate diagnosis. Patients should absolutely not change bandages, self-treat at home or buy medicine to take, because this can make the condition worse, cause prolonged infection, and even endanger life."

THUY DUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/manh-nhua-1cm-deo-thay-giao-hon-2-thang-bac-si-go-bo-20250919134510506.htm