Media OutReach
Vinmec performs its first total femoral replacement for world’s youngest cancer patient
Refusing to Surrender to Fate
In October 2022, after a minor fall, Tran Minh Duc (a boy from Ho Chi Minh City) hurt his left thigh. Believing it to be just a simple injury, his family was shocked to hear the bad news from the doctor: The boy was diagnosed with osteosarcoma – a malignant bone cancer with a tumor that had invaded his entire femur. It is typically seen in adolescents, but rare and haphazard in younger children.
Given the severe prognosis, most medical facilities recommended amputation to ensure his survival or bone grafting (a conventional method). Both methods carry a high risk of rejection and infection, especially for younger children in the development stage.
The flash of hope appeared when she met Prof. Dr. Tran Trung Dung – Director of the Orthopedic Council, Vinmec Healthcare System. An unprecedented approach was proposed to apply to such a young patient: replacing the entire femur with personalized 3D-printed materials that are produced in Vietnam.
A “Legendary” Surgery with Vietnamese Technologies
According to Prof. Dr. Tran Trung Dung, the entire femur of Duc has been invaded by the tumor. To ensure his life, Duc’s leg had to be amputated. However, different types of artificial joints available on the market are not compatible with young bodies.
After various interdisciplinary case conferences including Orthopedics, Oncology, Diagnostic Imaging, Pathology, Clinical Pharmacy, etc., the Vinmec experts reached a consensus on the optimal approach – a two-phase surgery. Phase 1 (January 2024): Removing the tumor and temporarily grafting a cement bone. Phase 2 (May 2025): Replacing the entire femur with a “customized” bone made of 3D-printed metal.
On January 29, 2024, Duc underwent his first surgery – removing the entire tumor and temporarily grafting a cement bone. In May 2025 when his conditions had stabilized, Duc’s entire femur was replaced with a “customized” bone made of 3D-printed metal. For the first time, 3D printing was applied to the youngest patient in the world with the collaboration between Vinmec medical professionals and VinUni’s engineers. The bone’s design is modular, enabling future extensions based on the child’s physical development.
According to MSc. Dr. Tran Duc Thanh, who was directly engaged in the surgery: “We contacted foreign manufacturers but there was no suitable design. Self-manufacturing the equipment allows us to be proactive in treatment, it also paves the way for a new direction for Vietnamese medicine.”
Prof. Dr. Tran Trung Dung added: “The 4-hour surgery was a success. Duc recovered quickly without any complications, now he is able to walk with the support of physical therapy. The surgery represented a breakthrough in complex techniques and the evidence for sound collaboration in the multidisciplinary medical team. Both the life and limb of the child were kept intact.”
Vinmec – Pioneering in Vietnam’s Personalized Precision Medicine
Once at risk of amputation and life-long dependence, Minh Duc is now able to walk on his own feet, supported by physical therapy without any complications of infection or transplant rejection. Every step Duc takes is a testament to precision medicine, advanced technologies, and the unwavering love of his mother.
“When my son stood up, I was trembling with joy. He has been unable to walk for nearly two years. Now he did it. I just hope that he will be capable of riding a bike and playing football like his peers…” – Ms. Hoang said in tears.
Prof. Dr. Tran Trung Dung also shared his emotions: “We believe that modern medicine and compassion should go side by side. Duc is not just a special patient, his case represents a story of determination, maternal love, and the faith that the impossible can become possible if we never give up.”
Vinmec is the first Vietnamese healthcare system that applies personalized 3D printing in the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. Instead of using standardized equipment, Vinmec uses CT and MRI data in the design of artificial joints and bones tailored to each patient to optimize motor functions, enhance precision, and reduce the recovery period.
To date, Vinmec has achieved successes in many difficult and rare cases, e.g. liver transplantation for an 8-month-old patient from a brain-dead donor, the first in Southeast Asia to reproduce 3D-printed titanium chest wall, and the first in the world to replace the pelvis and femur at the same time with 3D-printed bones.
With its series of breakthroughs and pioneering achievements in high-tech healthcare and precision medicine, Vinmec further affirms the aspiration to elevate the position of Vietnam in the global medical field.
Vinmec – A Place of Healing and Reimagining the Future.
Hashtag: #Vinmec
https://www.vinmec.com/eng/The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Vinmec Healthcare System
Vinmec is Vietnam’s leading private healthcare system, with a network of 9 hospitals nationwide, developed to international standards with a focus on comprehensive, personalized, and specialty care. Its proud achievements include:
- A strategic partnership with Cleveland Clinic, one of the world’s top healthcare systems, enabling global clinical collaboration and access to world-class medical standards.
- No.1 Healthcare Services for Foreigners in Vietnam, trusted by international residents for its high-quality care, globally trained physicians, and international-standard facilities.
- The only healthcare system in Asia honored at the Healthcare Asia Awards 2025, receiving two prestigious accolades: Hospital Group of the Year and Technology Innovation of the Year, reinforcing its leadership in the region.
- JCI-accredited, meeting the world’s most rigorous standards for patient safety and healthcare quality.
- The first and only healthcare system in Vietnam to establish Centers of Excellence (CoEs) across four key specialties: Cardiology, Oncology, Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, and Clinical Immunology – Allergy.
For medical inquiries, please contact: [email protected]
Media OutReach
New Documentary A MONA LISA OBSESSION from Discovery to debut December 14 in Southeast Asia
Owned by Frank Huang, an art collector and Taiwanese technology leader from Taiwan, this depiction of the Mona Lisa from his private collection adds a unique perspective to the ongoing conversation surrounding one of Leonardo da Vinci’s most iconic works.
The Mona Lisa has long captivated the world with her enigmatic smile and mysterious gaze – over centuries, many artistic interpretations inspired by the Mona Lisa have emerged, with scholars discovering more hidden details and subtle symbols, fueling the fascination of the original painting.
Catch A Mona Lisa Obsession in Southeast Asia on the Discovery Channel, Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 7:10 PM SGT and on Discovery Asia on Sunday, December 14 at 9:00 PM SGT.
****
Note to editors:
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Discovery Channel
Media OutReach
Financial Stress Keeps Singapore Awake, while Overall Well-Being in APAC Lags Behind Global Peers
Promotion of exercise culture and therapy may boost physical and mental health
The Singapore report of the Cigna Healthcare International Health Study 2025, released today encompasses more than 11,000 respondents across 13 markets, including 1,000 in Singapore and 4,000 across the Asia-Pacific region. The study reveals that physical, mental and financial well-being are the three aspects prioritized by Singapore residents. However, financial well-being is ranked the lowest with almost four in 10 (39%) rating their financial health as “fair” or “poor”.
Raymond Ng, CEO & Country Manager, Cigna Healthcare Singapore & Australia said: “Health and vitality are key to building resilient communities. It promises the well-being of our workforce and enables us to grow and prosper as a society. While vitality and well-being levels held firm among Singapore residents, more needs to be done in today’s uncertain environment to tackle stressors that can negatively impact their physical and mental well-being.”
The key indicators of vitality and well-being in Singapore are as follows:
| Vitality Score | Overall Well-Being
(% rating as “excellent” or “very good”)
|
Top Three Areas of Well-Being
(% rating as “excellent” or “very good” in 2025) |
| 2025: 61.2
2024: 61.4 |
2025: 34%
2024: 33% |
Family well-being: 44%
Mental well-being: 36% Physical well-being: 34% |
On a regional level, overall well-being in Asia Pacific lags behind the global average, with less than three in 10 (28%) Asia-Pacific respondents rating their overall well-being as “excellent” or “very good”, compared to four in 10 (41%) globally. While physical and mental well-being are the two most important aspects of well-being for respondents globally, financial well-being is more important for those in Asia Pacific, coming in as the third most important aspect. With financial well-being remaining the weakest aspect across the globe, there is a pressing need for governments and organizations to render support to address financial concerns.
Robert Peat, Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific, Cigna Healthcare said: “Asia Pacific continues to be one of the fastest growing regions in the world. To sustain this momentum, communities and employers need to recognize that healthy people are the foundation of a healthy economy and implement measures to close the gaps in their well-being.”
Sleepless in Singapore: Financial stress as the sleep killer
While mental well-being in Singapore remains stable with more than a third of respondents rating it as “excellent” or “very good” this year, eight in 10 (79%) respondents are stressed. Their greatest stressors are the current cost of living (53%); uncertainty about the future (47%); and personal finance (43%).
Stress affects more than mental and emotional health and can have huge implications on physical well-being. Our study reveals that disrupted sleep is the most common effect of stress among respondents in the nation, with close to half (48%) of respondents who are stressed reporting this effect, compared to 38% regionally.
Therapy remains underused by Singapore respondents. Despite nearly half (49%) of respondents reporting being negatively impacted by poor mental health, nearly nine in 10 (89%) say they did not receive counselling or therapy in the past 12 months, with 77% believing they do not need it. Given the impacts of stress and poor mental health on physical and overall well-being, more efforts are needed to raise awareness about the benefits of therapy and destigmatize seeking help.
Exercise culture runs strong in Singapore
More than a quarter (26%) of respondents in Singapore rate their exercise habits as “excellent” or “very good”.
When asked how they manage their weight, two-thirds (66%) said they exercise regularly, higher than the Asia-Pacific average of 61%; with only 4% of Singapore respondents turning to medication for weight management. The findings underscore a relatively strong exercise culture and the prioritization of healthy habits among those living in the nation. Communities and organizations may leverage the growing fitness trend to enhance physical well-being.
Cautious optimism around AI in healthcare
Close to half (47%) of Singapore respondents are positive about the impact of AI on healthcare, with 45% expecting it will reduce wait times within three years. This could have an outsized impact in Singapore, as respondents here are 29% more likely to have delayed or avoided getting care due to concern with wait times than their regional counterparts.
Additionally, almost half of Singapore respondents (48%) mention a reduction in human interaction as an expected change with the advent of AI. The challenge ahead is striking the right balance between efficiency and empathy.
The full findings of the report are available here.
Hashtag: #CignaHealthcare #CignaHealthcareInternationalHealthStudy #Health #Wellness #Wellbeing
https://www.cigna.com.sg/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/cigna-singapore/
https://www.facebook.com/cignasg/
https://www.instagram.com/cignasg/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Cigna Healthcare Singapore
Cigna Healthcare is a division of The Cigna Group, a global health company committed to creating a better future built on the health and vitality of every individual and every community. Cigna Healthcare is a health benefits provider that advocates for better health through every stage of life. We guide our customers through the healthcare system, empowering them with the information and insight they need to make the best choices for improving their health and vitality.
Cigna Healthcare Singapore is a strong believer of total health and wellness and prides itself on delivering personalized solutions for the health of our clients and customers. To achieve this, Cigna Healthcare Singapore works as one global team and in close partnership with its customers, network providers and communities to understand and address their diverse needs. Learn more at www.cigna.com.sg
The JESSICA Beauty and Wellness Awards celebrate excellence across luxury beauty, healthcare and wellness. It is one of the most recognized beauty industry awards in Hong Kong. The organizer, JESSICA, is a major lifestyle and media company. For over 25 years, JESSICA has been reporting on fashion, lifestyle and business, as one of the most trustworthy and influential media sources in Hong Kong.
“We’re incredibly fortunate to win this new, Best AI Slimming Award with JESSICA,” said the spokesperson for SWISS REJU. “Our goal was to provide our guests with top medical aesthetic technologies. Platforms like BTL EXION and INDIBA, are exactly the type of top medical technologies which SWISS REJU is heavily investing in. The breathtaking results powered by AI, reflect the endless possibilities new technologies can bring to the beauty and slimming field”
The JESSICA Beauty and Wellness Awards is extremely selective and has a rigorous nominations and editorial selection process. Only brands that have been proven to provide genuine service and excellent results are eligible to compete. Amongst the Winners this year, are Australian organic brand “CANVAS” and Japanese household name “Panasonic VITALIFT” beauty appliances.
SWISS REJU, with its heavy investment in new and prestigious technologies such as INDIBA (recently approved in Europe under the Medical Device Regulation), offers a seamless blend of traditional wellness and innovation, allowing guests to experience what many considered to be one of the most effective slimming treatments in Hong Kong. INDIBA with its trademark Proionic 448khz technology, is loved by the Top 1% most influential users in the world, amongst them European royalties, celebrity footballers and international singers.
The recognition of this major annual Award, reaffirms SWISS REJU’s commitment to exceptional technology. It is the 12th annual award won by the brand, representing a new record.
SWISS REJU and integrative power of cutting edge technologies
SWISS REJU’s trademarked “K-Lipolysis” body contouring program offers winning technologies including INDIBA, BTL EXION, Winback, ATP LIPO X, amongst others. It is the unique contouring solution beauty lovers are craving for.
Hashtag: #SWISSREJU #熱光溶脂
http://www.reju.hkThe issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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