Nearly 4 months ago, the Canadian patient came in Military Hospital 175 with serious condition, said the hospital's representative on June 10. After examination, he was diagnosed of paralysis due to sequelae of spinal cord injury. After two months of treatment in Vietnam, the patient regained walking ability with a limp, using assistive device. But only one month later, he was able to walk on his own.

C.D. Washingtion is a Canadian native who had been unable to walk for 8 years due to 3 car accidents in the capital Ottawa. It was one tragedy after another, the first time in September 2014, the next two times in 2017, 2019. He had been in many hospitals in Canada but could not get treated for his condition. Suffering from a lot of pain and inconvenience, this man did not want to conduct surgery and looked for alternative treatments instead.

He decided to try traditional medicine, either in Vietnam or China. After much consideration, C.D. Washington decided to choose Military Hospital 175 in Vietnam, which is known for their traditional medicine treatment units as well as the conditions of facilities to serve patients.

So on February 13, 2023, the treatment journey started. The patient registered for an on-demand examination at the Traditional Medicine Clinic of Military Hospital 175. He was then hospitalized for long-term treatment at the International Department.

Major General Tran Quoc Viet - Director of Military Medical Hospital 175 (Ministry of Defense) (right) and CD. Washington, a Canadian native, is treated in Military Hospital 175 for paralysis due to sequelae of spinal cord injury (Photo: TD).

After a preliminary review and assessment, Doctor Ngo Quoc Hoan of the International Faculty proposed the ideal orthopedic trauma treatment to be a combination of traditional medicine and physical rehabilitation.

All the doctors of the Traditional Medicine department and Rehabilitation department agreed that this was an appropriate method for the Canadian man. In the beginning, the patient could not walk and had to use an electric wheelchair. He had high requirements for medical care. He also needed special care service from the International Faculty because there is no family member with him.

So every day, a team of non-specialist doctors and nurses examine and take care of patients and take patients for treatment at the Faculty of Traditional Medicine and the Department of Rehabilitation. They tried their best to communicate in English so that the patient can understand. Also, with foreign health insurance, C.D.'s treatment was costly, so Hoan frequently contact the Canadian medical team about the treatment situation as well as hospital fee payment procedures to make sure the patient can be able to manage within his means.

For traditional medicine treatment at Military Hospital 175, the protocol includes MRI scans, paraclinical tests, prescribed treatment with traditional medicine, and rehabilitation exercises. Every 10-15 days, the doctors re-evaluate the conditions to reduce the intensity as the patient gets better.

Doctor Le Anh Dung, Dean of the Department of Traditional Medicine shook hands with CD Washington, and now can stand and walk normally (Photo: TD).

Doctor Le Anh Dung, Dean of the Department of Traditional Medicine believed this special case is "a success that exceeded expectations" although challenging and complicated.

The treatment and exercise efforts paid off. The patient used to limp in each step with assistive devices, but after 3 months he was able to walk independently in his patient room.

After being discharged from the hospital, the patient still maintains outpatient treatment. He was treated with an implant method during that period. Only two weeks later, his walking ability improves significantly, almost back to normal.

Prescribing the implant method, a high-tech technique of acupuncture, Doctor Le Anh Dung believed it is an appropriate choice for strengthening the treatment effect on long-term paralyzed patients. He added that, at Military Hospital 175, this technique has been performed routinely since 2015 for patients using Health Insurance and implanting only with Korean and Japanese threads upon request.

The Canadian patient had turned his life around with the help of the Vietnamese medical team.

"Vietnamese doctors have made my wish to walk normally come true. I think this is really a miracle. My mother cried when she saw her son for the first time in eight years standing up on his own and walking without assistance,” said C.D. Washington.

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