SEOUL — A six-year-old boy from Kyrgyzstan, who suffered horrific injuries and had most of his scalp torn off after being attacked by three large dogs, has successfully returned home following groundbreaking reconstructive surgery in South Korea.

A medical team led by Professor Choi Jong-woo of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Asan Medical Center (AMC) in Seoul announced on the 21st that they had invited young Umar to South Korea, where they successfully performed a series of complex procedures to cover and reconstruct his massive scalp defects.

A Frightening Ordeal in Bishkek

The tragic incident occurred on April 1 in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. While playing with a friend near his home, Umar lost his balance while crossing a fence and fell into a neighboring yard. Instantly, three aggressive large dogs lunged at the child.

The attack left Umar with catastrophic injuries. Approximately 80% of his scalp—measuring a staggering 25 centimeters by 25 centimeters—was severely damaged, exposing his bare skull, which had also fractured. A patrolling police officer discovered the bleeding boy and rushed him to a nearby hospital. However, local medical staff could only provide basic antibiotic treatments to prevent infection, lacking the specialized surgical capacity required for such a severe trauma.

Umar’s family desperately sought alternative options, exploring medical treatment in Turkey. Yet, the combined cost of airfare and surgery was estimated at around $100,000 USD (approximately 130 million Korean won). For Umar’s family—who had no steady income, relied on a meager monthly pension of about 300,000 won, and were struggling to raise five children together—the financial burden was utterly insurmountable.

A Miraculous Encounter and Medical Intervention

Amid mounting despair, hope arrived unexpectedly. On April 27, a medical delegation from Asan Medical Center visiting Kyrgyzstan to share advanced medical techniques learned of the boy's plight.

Dr. Hyun-seok Seo, a plastic surgeon who visited Umar at the National Center for Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery in Kyrgyzstan, recalled the urgency of the situation. "Umar’s defect area was extremely vast, and his skull was completely exposed, raising grave concerns about life-threatening complications," Dr. Seo said. "Recognizing that local facilities could not handle such a high-level, complex surgery, we concluded that transporting him to South Korea for treatment was the only viable option."

On July 9, Umar finally arrived in South Korea and underwent comprehensive precision examinations at Asan Medical Center. Initially, Professor Choi considered a free flap procedure, which involves harvesting tissue from another part of the patient's body, such as the thighs or abdomen, and microvascularly connecting blood vessels to the scalp.

However, because Umar was so young, his body lacked sufficient tissue to cover such an expansive defect. Furthermore, using skin grafts from other parts of the body would mean no hair could ever grow on those areas, forcing the young boy to live the rest of his life completely bald.

A Tailored Surgical Strategy: Tissue Expansion

To secure both aesthetic and functional restoration for Umar’s future, the medical team opted for a sophisticated multi-stage approach: a combination of skin grafting and tissue expansion utilizing his remaining scalp.

Because less than 20% of Umar’s original scalp remained, there was initially not even enough space to insert tissue expanders. To solve this, the medical team first performed a skin graft using tissue from his thigh to create a secure foundation. Once space was established, they inserted three silicone tissue expanders beneath the remaining scalp.

Over the next two months, starting in late July, the medical team meticulously controlled the rate of saline injections into the expanders to gradually stretch the scalp. While managing potential risks such as wound dehiscence (splitting) and fevers, a multidisciplinary team—including specialists in dermatology, pediatric infectious diseases, and radiology—provided intensive, coordinated care.

On September 29, following successful expansion, the team removed the tissue expanders and performed the definitive reconstruction surgery, utilizing the newly stretched scalp to completely cover the exposed skull.

A Bright Smile and a Journey Home

Having courageously endured the grueling surgeries at such a tender age, Umar regained his bright smile and returned home to Kyrgyzstan in healthy condition on October 15.

"When I go back to school, I will study hard and read lots of books," a smiling Umar said, expressing his heartfelt gratitude. "I am truly thankful to the doctors who healed me."

Umar's mother, 41-year-old Narkiza, echoed her son's emotions. "Hearing that there was no way to treat him in Kyrgyzstan left us completely in despair, but we miraculously met the medical staff at Asan Medical Center," she said. "Thanks to Professor Choi and the entire team who gave their absolute best, we are returning home with happy and grateful memories."

All medical expenses for Umar’s treatment were fully covered by the Asan Foundation and Asan Medical Center, with interpretation support generously provided by the Seoul Dongbu Foreigner Community Center.

Professor Choi reflected on the challenging case: "Umar’s scalp defect was so extensive that determining a reconstruction method was exceptionally difficult. Rather than simply covering the wound, we chose a method that maximized his remaining scalp, keeping his long-term growth and future life in mind. Despite the arduous treatment process, Umar remained bright and brave. I sincerely hope that after returning home, he grows up healthy and goes on to fulfill all his dreams."

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