Dr. Shantharam Shetty performs rare surgery on 57-year-old patient

Dr. Shantharam Shetty performs rare surgery on 57-year-old patient

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, July 21: Senior Consultant Surgeon Dr. Shantharam Shetty said that joint replacement surgery involves replacing the diseased and damaged natural joint surfaces with an artificial one. He was speaking to reporters at Tejaswini Hospital after successfully performing a hip-revision surgery on a 57-year-old patient in the hospital. Dr. Ajit Kumar assisted him in this surgery, he said.

Explaining the procedure, the doctor said that hip revision surgery, also known as Total Hip Arthoplasty is a procedure in which an older artificial hip joint is replaced with a new prosthesis. The surgery is usually done when the previously implanted prosthesis loosens, breaks, or dislocates due to wear and tear caused by intense physical activity. Of the nearly 10,000 primary hip-replacement surgeries conducted in a year, 5% require revision. This number however is on the rise owing to awareness, health conscious lifestyle, and increased acceptance of surgeries among the general public. This kind of surgery is done in three or four hospitals in Mangalore. Earlier the surgery was rarely performed, but now it is being performed routinely.

Commenting on the significance of the surgery he said: “The average scenario of hip-revision surgeries as compared to primary hip-replacement surgeries is 1:20, making them rare and complex. However with advanced surgical techniques, evolving implant designs and materials customized to suit varied lifestyle and anatomic requirements of patients, the success rate of complex hip-replacement surgery has been optimal.” For this hip-revision surgery, the doctors employed Solution, an implant that has over 25 years of clinical heritage and a track record of 95% success rates and is also widely acknowledged for its wide range of bearing material options available.

Post-operative care is highly essential and patients are required to follow the recommended rehabilitation and physiotherapy with utmost care to ensure healthier joints and long lasting implants. People who undergo primary hip replacements can usually walk on the first day after the operation. This, however, may differ depending on individual medical histories.

Patients undergoing hip replacements at a younger age would probably require a hip Arthoplasty later as the lifespan of an implant is usually 10-15 years and will cost Rs 1 – Rs. 1.5 lakhs. This lifespan varies from individual to individual depending on their lifestyles and the amount of physical activity.

In this surgery the surface acts as a lubricant. The patient realizes the need of surgery only when he feels pain in his body. After the surgery, the patient starts walking in 10 days and it’s painless, he added.