KIEU MINH TRUNG’S COMEBACK: ASEAN PARA GAMES CHAMPION ON HIS ROAD TO RECOVERY

In 2018, after two years of representing Vietnam at the ASEAN Para Games and Asian Para Games — winning gold, silver, and bronze medals in javelin and discus throw — athlete Kieu Minh Trung began experiencing persistent shoulder pain that gradually worsened.

Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital is honored to support Kieu Minh Trung in his journey to recovery and his efforts to rejoin the national team, aiming for new milestones at future ASEAN Para Games.

In 2018, after two years of representing Vietnam at the ASEAN Para Games and Asian Para Games — winning gold, silver, and bronze medals in javelin and discus throw — athlete Kieu Minh Trung began experiencing persistent shoulder pain that gradually worsened.

Despite the ongoing pain, Trung pushed through competitions, frequently visiting his “health maintenance garage” — a nickname he gave to Dr. Nguyen Trong Anh, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Sports Medicine Association and one of Vietnam’s leading sports medicine specialists with 25 years of experience treating both professional and amateur athletes. 

With temporary treatments and close monitoring before each tournament, Trung managed to keep competing. Remarkably, while carrying the shoulder injury, he still brought home three gold medals in javelin, three silver medals in discus, and one bronze medal from the Asian Para Games.

Now, five years after the initial injury, it is time for a definitive surgical intervention to restore his physical condition and prolong his competitive career.

Upon his admission to Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital, the hospital board and Dr. Nguyen Trong Anh decided to sponsor Trung’s treatment as a gesture of support for this exceptional case.

Reflecting on the journey, Dr. Nguyen Trong Anh shared: “During my years working with the national team, I’ve always admired the determination and spirit of athletes — especially para-athletes. Despite physical challenges and limited resources, they train and compete with all their heart to bring glory to Vietnam. I’m grateful that our hospital can play a part in supporting Trung.”

Pre-surgery assessments revealed that Trung had a SLAP lesion (superior labrum tear at the biceps anchor), subscapularis tendon tear, and severe acromioclavicular joint degeneration — all caused by years of repetitive overhead throwing motions under high torque, characteristic of javelin and discus events.

To enable his return to elite competition, the surgical team performed shoulder arthroscopy — a minimally invasive procedure using just three tiny incisions. A camera was inserted into the joint, magnifying internal structures up to 20 times on screen, allowing surgeons to accurately assess and repair damage even in deep, hard-to-reach areas.

Thanks to the advanced equipment at Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital, the surgical team used radiofrequency ablation to remove inflamed tissue and biodegradable anchors to suture the torn labrum. The athlete was discharged just 1–2 days after surgery and began early rehabilitation.

Unlike traditional open surgery, which leaves large scars and often causes muscle adhesions that limit mobility, arthroscopic surgery offers faster recovery and less trauma — an ideal approach for professional athletes.

For professional athletes who require surgical interventions with the least possible trauma, shoulder arthroscopic surgery meets all the criteria. In Trung’s case, all preoperative and intraoperative diagnoses were addressed thoroughly and precisely by Dr. Trong Anh’s team — delivering a textbook-standard surgical correction.

With proper post-op care, physical therapy, and his own strong physical foundation, Trung is expected to:

• Heal internal structures within 1–2 months
• Resume light activities like swimming and jogging after 2 months
• Begin heavier sports movements at 4 months
• Fully return to competition after 6 – 9 months

While the road to full recovery won’t be easy, Trung’s unwavering determination will surely bring him back to the field — stronger than ever.

Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital is proud to accompany Kieu Minh Trung on his recovery journey and support his return to the national team, as he continues to pursue glory at the ASEAN Para Games.

Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital

No. 88, Street No. 8, Trung Son Residential Area, Binh Hung Commune, Ho Chi Minh City.

Hotline: 18006767

info@nih.com.vn

BRC: No. 0312088602, issued on December 14th, 2012 by the Department of Planning and Investment of Ho Chi Minh City. Medical Examination and Treatment License No. 230/BYT-GPHĐ, issued by the Ministry of Health.