Musculoskeletal Diseases and Oncology Department

Musculoskeletal Diseases and Oncology Department

Hospital for Trauma and Orthopedics of Ho Chi Minh City

Head of Department: Specialty II Dr. Diep The Hoa

Deputy Head of Department: Dr. Le Van Tho

In 1983, in order to execute the policy of Ho Chi Minh City Health Service on the establishment of specialized centers, many specialized centers were born, including the Center for Trauma and Orthopedic (1985).

In the following years, with the support of the Director of Center for Trauma and Orthopedic – Dr. Tran Ly Nam Anh, Deputy Director – Associate Professor Vo Thanh Phung who is also the Vice President of Ho Chi Minh City Medical Association proposed the establishment of specialized units. Around 1992, the Orthopedic Diseases, Rheumatology and Microsurgery Units have formed and developed to this day.

 

Orthopedic Diseases Unit

At the beginning, the Orthopedic Diseases Unit joined with Upper Limb Surgery Department under the management and facilitation of the Head of Department - Dr Tran Thanh My and the Deputy Head of Department - Dr Le Chi Dung. Dr Le Chi Dung was also the Head of Orthopedic Diseases Unit.

After three months, Dr. Le Chi Dung was sent to France for training for a year. Dr. Le Chi Dung asked Dr. Le Kinh to be in of specialty for the unit. At that time, it was a pleasure and a great challenge to go abroad for training. Therefore, the senior doctors and colleagues at the Hospital came to farewell Dr. Le Chi Dung at Tan Son Nhat Airport (Figure 1).

Due to the lack of personnel and facilities at the beginning, the Unit mainly focused on Tumors and Tumor – like lesions of musculoskeletal system in the extremities.

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II. Department of Orthopedic Diseases – Rheumatology

On 27/02/1993: Orthopedic Diseases Unit joined with Rheumatology Unit to form Department of Orthopedic Diseases – Rheumatology. The two Units were linked only in terms of facilities and administration, but the professional operations were completely independent. The Head of Department was Dr. Dai Phi Van (Head of Rheumatology Unit) and Deputy Head of Department was Dr. Le Chi Dung (Figure 2).

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After that, the new doctors came to work:

  • Dr. Nguyen Quang Dam: Preliminary Specialists in Pediatrics.
  • Dr. Le Van Tho: Preliminary Specialists in Pathology.
  • Dr. Nguyen Van Hien: Preliminary Specialists in Pathology.

III. Musculoskeletal Diseases and Oncology Department

On 20/01/1997: Orthopedic Diseases Unit officially became Musculoskeletal Diseases and Oncology Department with 32 treatment beds.

Faculty Organization:

  • Head of Department: Dr. Le Chi Dung.

 

THE CURRENT:

  • On 01/06/2013: Dr. Diep The Hoa temporarily operate the Department.
  • On 31/10/2014: Dr. Diep The Hoa officially received the decision appointing him as the Head of Department the retirement of Associate Professor, Dr. Le Chi Dung.
  • With 55 treatment beds, there are outpatient examination every day and 4 days of surgery each week (Monday has 2 operating rooms), with an average of 20 to 22 operations a week.
  • Personnel Resources (Figure 4):
  • Doctors: 7 official doctors and 2 doctors from University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City:
  • Nurses: 15 nurses (3 Bachelors, 12 Intermediate nurses).
  • Nurses’ aid: 3 employees.

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  • Musculoskeletal Diseases and Oncology Department can come to this day because of the great merit of the leaders of the Hospital, especially Associate Professor – Dr. Le Chi Dung, the help at all conditions of the Dr. Tran Thanh My, along with the professional support of Dr. Le Kinh, Dr. Bui Van Duc, the cooperation of Associate Professor – Dr. Nguyen Van Thang and other departments... The next generation will always respect and gratitude forever.

Scientific activities: The department's scientific activities are closely linked to:

  • University of Medicine & Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City: Department of Pathology, Department of Trauma and Orthopedics and Department of Nursing.
  • Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine at Ho Chi Minh City: Department of Trauma and Orthopedics.
  • Tissue Bank of Ho Chi Minh City.
  • Other departments in the hospital, especially in collaboration with the Department of microsurgery and Plastic Surgery in some surgery to reconstruct the bone and soft tissue defects after the treatment of soft tissue and bone diseases.
  • Associations: Trauma and Orthopedics, Pediatric Orthopedics, Spine, Hand Surgery, Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy, Arthroplasty, Cancer, Rheumatology... at Ho Chi Minh City.

Teaching – Training:

  • Participating in teaching students in classes, Orientation for Specialties, Specialty level I, Specialty level II, Master Degree... in 2 Departments of Pathology, Trauma and Orthopedic at University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City and Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine at Ho Chi Minh City.

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Collective picture of the Musculoskeletal Diseases and Oncology Department today.

Last row: Head of Department – Dr. Diep The Hoa (fourth person from right to left).