Joint replacement is a standard orthopaedic procedure acceptable all over the world. People crippled with hip and knee disorders are reaping the benefits of this surgical procedure. The hip replacement operation is now known to be one of the most reliable operations in orthopaedic surgery.
The first arthroplasty was performed in 1821 by Anthony White in London at westminster hospital. On September 28, 1940 at Columbia Hospital in South Carolina Dr. Austin T. Moore an American surgeon, reported and performed the first metallic hip replacement surgery. Dr. Sir John Charnley is considered to be the father of arthroplasty.
Once an uncommon operation reserved for frail patients with a limited life expectancy, hip replacement is now a common procedure. Active athletes like race car drivers Bobby Labonte and Dale Jarret and British Open runner-up golfer Tom Watson have undergone hip arthroplasty.
At present, on an average, approximately 5 lac hip replacements are done in UK and around 2 lac in United States, every year. Similarly more than 7 lac knee replacements are done every year in UK and around 5 lac in United States. In India the figure is around 30,000 total hip replacements every year and the number is on a rise.
Unfortunately the people of our state are still reluctant and have some misconceptions about joint replacement. People have certain doubts in their minds which are far from truth. Some people think that with an artificial joint they may not be able to walk, go up and downstairs, pray, etc. Some people have wrong conception that after joint replacement they are vulnerable to electric shock. Disinformation campaign and negative approach of certain doctors who don’t do it has also led to the noncompliance of the patient. Lack of facilities in our state and cost factor also plays a role in not accepting this procedure.
However Joint replacement changes the life of an orthopaedic handicapped person. It gives new life to people who are bedridden or on wheelchair and dependent on relatives and friends. The quality of life changes from a useless unproductive and passive one to an independent active and useful life. The greatest advantage is the relief of pain after joint replacement surgery.
At present hip replacements are being done as a routine in our hospital. Every week two to three hip replacement surgeries are being performed in Bone and Joint Hospital Barzullah. People don’t have to go outside state for joint replacement. Our surgeons are at par with those outside state and our results with replacement surgery are comparable with the results of any advanced centre of the world.
So far we have performed more than 1500 Hip replacement surgeries. The indications include degenerative joint diseases (osteoarthritis), traumatic injuries, nonunion/necrosis (AVN), inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, post tubercular sequelae etc .On an average it takes one to two hours to complete the procedure and one unit of blood transfusion. Patients after hip replacement start walking immediately on 2nd or 3rd postoperative day.
The range of motion is almost free with the latest available joints. They can go up & downstairs with ease, perform all their routine activities without any pain. With few modifications of the daily activities patients live a near normal, painless, independent and active life.
A hip replacement surgery like any other major surgery can have problems like blood Loss, Infection, Dislocation, Implant Loosening etc. but with the advancement of technology implants and expertise complication rate has been minimized.
My dear fellow countrymen we have been lacking behind in many respects in our collective life. But don’t deprive yourselves of the medical benefits of a time tested operative procedure. Bone and joint hospital is well equipped with the facilities of joint replacement and there is no need to suffer from hip and knee ailments nor there any need to move outside state for joint replacement.

Dr. M. A Halwai is Head department of orthopaedics BJS Hospital Srinagar. Feedback at drmahalwai@rediffmail.com”

Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Jul 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Jul 2012 00:00:00 IST