Vinmec Healthcare System, a leading private hospital group in Vietnam, is transforming bone cancer care with personalized 3D-printed implants, offering new hope to patients previously facing amputation or lifelong disability.

In a global first, eight-year-old Tran Minh Duc received a fully 3D-printed, growth-adaptive titanium femur after being diagnosed with aggressive osteosarcoma. Multiple hospitals recommended amputation. Instead, Vinmec offered a two-stage solution using CT-based design and modular implant technology.

According to medical literature in the U.S. National Library of Medicine, there have been no recorded cases of fully 3D-printed, patient-specific femoral implants used in children. That makes Tran Minh Duc the youngest patient in the world to receive a growth-adaptive titanium femur made entirely through 3D printing.

Today, Duc walks unaided, his limb and childhood preserved.

"The surgery represented a breakthrough in complex techniques and was a testament to strong collaboration within the multidisciplinary medical team", Prof. Dr. Tran Trung Dung, Director of the Orthopedic Council, Vinmec Healthcare System, said in a release.

A similar approach helped 25-year-old Vu Dinh Tuy, whose advanced sarcoma had damaged both femur and pelvis. Instead of removing entire joint systems as in traditional surgeries, Vinmec doctors preserved key tendons and load-bearing structures. This enabled Tuy to take his first steps just two days post-operation.

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Thanks to innovative 3D-printed implant approach, 25-year-old Vu Dinh Tuy took his first steps just two days after surgery to treat aggressive bone cancer. BY VINMEC

This precision-guided, personalized approach also delivered transformative results for middle-aged patients.

For Do Phuc Hoan, 48, decades of hip deformity from untreated dysplasia had led to severe disability, Crowe type IV. After repeated rejections, he turned to Vinmec. Surgeons implanted a tailored hip prosthesis with 98% anatomical precision, enabling him to walk within a week.

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After decades of immobility from severe hip deformity, 48-year-old Do Phuc Hoan walks again—thanks to a custom 3D-printed hip implant by Vinmec surgeons. BY VINMEC

These surgeries did more than extend survival, they brought back movement, autonomy, and hope. Where traditional methods fell short, 3D printing paved the way for personalized, life-changing care.

Vietnam's 3D Healthcare Revolution

Vinmec is Vietnam's leading healthcare provider in applying patient-specific 3D printing to musculoskeletal surgery. Using MRI and CT data, the hospital designs custom implants and surgical guides that enhance joint function and speed recovery, often at a lower cost than imported alternatives. Vinmec also became only the second hospital worldwide to join the prestigious Cleveland Clinic Connected network.

Nationwide, this innovation is accelerating. According to Expert Market Research, Vietnam's 3D-printed medical device market is expected to triple by 2034, reaching USD 142.8 million.

Supporting this trend, the Vietnam 3D Technology in Medicine Association was recently launched to connect clinicians, engineers, and industry partners.

"The establishment of the Association is essential to connecting resources and building a thriving ecosystem for 3D technology development in Vietnam's healthcare sector.", Prof. Dr. Tran Trung Dung emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration in medical innovation.

Commenting from the material-supply side, Dr. Huan Dau, CEO of Vinnotek - one of the country's leading metal 3D printing firms, added: "Collaboration is key. By building regional supply chains and uniting with scientific organizations, we can reduce costs and improve access to life-saving technology."

From pediatric oncology to complex orthopedic care, Vinmec has not only transformed care, it's positioning Vietnam as a rising force in global healthcare.