Vladimir Trigueros, a 9-year-old boy from El Salvador, returned to Rush in June to have his leg implant lengthened. Vladimir had undergone surgery back in December to have the cancer in his thigh bone removed. In place of the boy's femur, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Steven Gitelis had inserted an expandable prosthesis that can be lengthened as Vladimir grows - without additional surgery.

On the morning of surgery, with Vladimir under general anesthesia to keep him comfortable, Dr. Gitelis placed a ring around Vladimir's thigh. With the push of a button, a magnetic field was generated in the ring, loosening a coil inside the implant, and enabling the device to lengthen. The movement was checked on a radiograph, and the magnetic field stopped when the implant had expanded one centimeter. The procedure took less than five minutes. Vladimir left the hospital an hour later, and returned home to his family, including two little sisters, the next day.

Vladimir will have to return every six months for an adjustment of the implant, to keep up with his growth. The expense of travel alone is enormous, but his father, Lisandro Trigueros, told local reporters: "My son's leg has no price."

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Suffering from a rare form of bone cancer in his thigh, young Vladimir Trigueros was faced with the loss of his right leg. When told by doctors in El Salvador that amputation was the only way to save the 9-year-old boy's life, his father Lisandro refused to give up hope. Through research on the Internet, Lisandro learned about MOR orthopaedic oncologist Dr. Steven Gitelis and an advanced limb-sparing procedure for children with bone cancer.

"The procedure involves removing 16 centimeters of the thigh bone and then replacing it with a prosthesis that can lengthen as the boy grows," says Dr. Gitelis. The procedure was a success and Dr. Gitelis was able to remove all of the cancer. Vladimir will need to undergo chemotherapy and return to Chicago periodically for adjustments of the prosthesis.

"His parents will need to bring him back to Chicago once every three to six months," says Dr. Gitelis. "It takes about 10 minutes and I can grow his leg."

In an ABC 7 News report by Theresa Gutierrez, Dr. Gitelis describes the limb sparing procedure and the prognosis for his young patient.

To view the full report, click on the link below.

View ABC 7 report