55-year-old man with deformed limbs due to gout

Mr. N.D.Q shared:“20 years ago, I was diagnosed with gout. Due to my subjective mentality, not following a scientific diet and lifestyle, and regularly drinking alcohol, my joints, especially my toes, feet, fingers, and elbows, were in severe pain. Tumors appeared in the joints and grew larger and larger, making it very difficult for me to perform daily activities such as holding and walking. The disease also made me feel very self-conscious when communicating with people.”

Image of a patient's limbs deformed by gout. Photo: Kim Chung

InVinh International HospitalThrough clinical examination, combined with blood test results, X-rays, and ultrasound examination of Mr. N.D.Q, the doctors diagnosed: Soft tissue tumors of the limbs due to gout, hard tumors containing urate crystals (also known as tophi) invading and damaging the joints.

A team of doctors from Vinh International Hospital performed surgery to remove tumors from the limbs of a patient with gout. Photo: Kim Chung

The patient was assigned to have surgery to remove the tumor. The surgery was successful after 90 minutes. Doctor Tran Van Thuyen - Head of Surgery Department, Vinh International Hospital directly performed surgery to remove the tumors caused by tophi on the instep of both feet, the instep of the right hand, and the left elbow of the patient. The tophi stuck and destroyed the joints and tendons, leading to deformities in the joints of both hands and feet. The patient needed to undergo 1-2 more surgeries to remove almost all the tumors caused by gout. The patient will have to suffer from the sequelae of joint damage such as stiff joints and limited movement of the joints of both hands and feet.

Image of one of many tophi removed from the limbs of patient N.D.Q after surgery. Photo: Kim Chung

GoutGout is a fairly common disease, with an increasing trend in recent years. The disease is caused by a disorder of uric acid metabolism in the body. Factors that increase the risk of gout: Eating a lot of foods rich in protein (seafood, animal organs, eggs, etc.); Using stimulants, drinking alcohol regularly; Being overweight, having obesity; Having kidney or cardiovascular disease; Having someone in the family with a history of gout.

Dr. Tran Van Thuyen recommends: Gout, if not detected and treated promptly and effectively, can cause complications such as: Arthritis, affecting joint mobility, affecting the patient's quality of life, and can even cause disability, kidney failure...

The disease has clinical symptoms such as: At the joints, there are signs of swelling, redness, inflammation, a feeling of heat around the joints, severe pain when touched, especially at night; Limited movement; The pain lasts for 5-7 days and then gradually decreases. When the pain is gone, the joints return to normal function; Health declines, poor appetite, mild fever, chills.

When the above symptoms appear, the patient needs to go to a medical facility with a specialist for examination. The patient must also combine a scientific lifestyle, diet and use appropriate medication as prescribed by the doctor to control the symptoms and prevent possible dangerous complications./.