After a Traffic Accident, Failed Metal Pin Fixation Led to Pain and Leg Deformity — Walking Any Further Became Impossible

Asan Medical Center Covered All Treatment Costs and Successfully Performed Leg Reconstruction Surgery and Rehabilitation

“Meeting the medical staff at Asan Medical Center was a miracle… I will live a life of service with my restored legs”

▲Mr. John Conteh (center), who underwent femoral reconstruction and skin graft surgery at Asan Medical Center, poses for a commemorative photo with the medical staff on Thursday the 13th.
On the left is Professor Ji Wan Kim of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, and on the right is Professor Jin Geun Kwon of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Asan Medical Center.

After a traffic accident, an African young man who had been stabbed in the knee by a poorly fixed metal pin every time he walked has finally escaped from his unbearable pain after receiving surgery in Korea.

Asan Medical Center invited 28-year-old John Conteh, whose thigh bone had not healed and had bent to the point where walking was difficult, and who also suffered severe pain from a protruding metal pin. Earlier this month, the Asan Medical Center successfully performed reconstructive surgery followed by rehabilitation therapy. Mr. Conteh has now safely regained his ability to walk and was recently discharged.

All costs related to Mr. Conteh’s treatment were fully covered by the Asan Foundation and Asan Medical Center.

Mr. Conteh, who lived in Sierra Leone, a small country on the Atlantic coast of Africa, suffered a severe open fracture of his left thigh bone (femur) in a traffic accident in December 2022. He immediately underwent surgery at a local hospital, during which a metal pin was inserted from his thigh to his knee.

However, after the surgery, a screw broke and the metal pin began to shift. As the pin gradually protruded, Mr. Conteh experienced excruciating knee pain every time he walked. Although he took pain medication, it eventually stopped working. His left leg steadily shortened, causing an unbalanced gait and making walking even more difficult.

In May of this year, a final X-ray confirmed what had been feared was his thigh bone had not healed at all. The local physician warned that if the metal pin continued to irritate the kneecap, he would eventually lose the ability to bend his knee and, in the worst case, might even require amputation. The doctor added that, in this condition, Mr. Conteh would be able to walk for at most one more year.

Moreover, Mr. Conteh had no means to obtain treatment on his own. Having lost his father at a young age, he supported his mother, two younger sisters, and a nephew. His only income came from a modest stipend and donations he received while serving as an evangelist at his church.

A Korean missionary who knew his situation well began searching for a hospital capable of performing the surgery and eventually requested overseas charity care from Asan Medical Center.

After Asan Medical Center reviewed Mr. Conteh’s condition and decided to provide treatment, he was able to arrive in Korea on October 4. He then underwent a three-week quarantine period to confirm he was free of Ebola infection. On October 27, he was admitted to Asan Medical Center, where further examinations were conducted.

Mr. Conteh was diagnosed with femoral nonunion with deformity and protrusion of internal fixation hardware. His attending physician, Professor Ji Wan Kim of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Asan Medical Center, planned a surgery to remove the metal pin, realign the displaced bone, and refix it with a new pin. For the portion of the thigh bone that had still not healed, bone grafting and fixation with a smaller pin were also planned.

In addition, because his left ankle area had been injured during the traffic accident, a skin graft was needed. Professor Jin Geun Kwon of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Asan Medical Center was consulted. To prepare for the skin graft, Professor Kwon administered antibiotics targeted to drug resistant bacteria identified in the wound and repeatedly performed bedside debridement to thoroughly clean the affected area.

At last, on November 3, the orthopedic and plastic surgery teams performed Mr. Conteh’s femoral reconstruction and skin graft surgery together. After a total of seven hours, the procedures were successfully completed. Mr. Conteh recovered smoothly and safely completed two weeks of rehabilitation therapy. The skin graft on his left ankle also took well and remained securely in place.

Professor Ji Wan Kim of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Asan Medical Center said, “I am truly glad that Mr. Conteh, who endured pain for such a long time, can now walk comfortably. Considering the medical environment in his home country, we ensured that he could receive as much rehabilitation therapy as possible here in Korea. Thanks to his dedication and cooperation, he was able to regain his walking ability quickly.”

Mr. John Conteh shared his thoughts upon discharge, saying, “Meeting the medical staff at Asan Medical Center was a miracle. I am deeply grateful to everyone who treated me. With my restored legs, I will return home and devote myself even more to serving my community.”