Consultant Orthopaedic Oncologist, Dr Choong Chee Leong, successfully performed what is believed to be Malaysia’s first silver-coated total femur megaprosthesis implantation, offering a limb-salvaging solution for patients with severe bone infections following tumour surgery.
The complex 11-hour surgery involved replacing an infected total femur implant with a specialised silver-coated megaprosthesis, designed to reduce bacterial growth on the implant surface and lower the risk of recurrent infection. The procedure also utilised calcium sulphate antibiotic carriers, which deliver high concentrations of antibiotics directly to the affected area while gradually dissolving as healing takes place.
The patient had undergone multiple surgeries over several years after being diagnosed with a giant cell tumour in his thigh bone. Despite previous reconstructions, he developed persistent prosthetic joint infections that severely affected his mobility and quality of life, leaving amputation as a possible option.
Following the surgery at Beacon Hospital, the patient has shown encouraging recovery. His pain has significantly improved, he no longer requires prolonged oral antibiotics and he is gradually regaining his mobility.
This milestone demonstrates Beacon Hospital’s commitment to advancing orthopaedic oncology and limb salvage surgery, providing patients with innovative treatment options that preserve both limb function and quality of life.
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Link to article: https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/health/2026/07/22/the-man-with-the-silver-bone
