45-year-old Mahesh Dhawalkar walking pain-free just hours after undergoing Navi Mumbai’s first successful hip replacement surgery at Medicover Hospital, Kharghar, using the advanced Direct Anterior Approach technique | File Photo
Navi Mumbai: Navi Mumbai’s first of its kind, hip replacement surgery on a 45-year-old man who had been experiencing avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head for the past one year due to unmonitored steroid usage for managing his Covid infection, has been done successfully.
A team led by Dr. Deepak Gautam, the Director of Orthopedic Medicine at Medicover Hospital in Kharghar, successfully conducted Navi Mumbai’s first of its kind hip replacement surgery on a 45-year-old man.
The patient was seen walking pain-free in the postoperative room just four hours after the surgery and was discharged within 24 hours. He is now back to his regular activities without any difficulties, said the doctor.
Mahesh Dhawalkar, a 45-year-old resident of Navi Mumbai employed in the hotel sector, had been suffering from walking pain for more than a year. Despite seeking help from multiple doctors and trying various medications including painkillers, he found no relief. As his condition deteriorated, he decided to seek treatment at Medicover Hospital in Navi Mumbai.
Dr. Gautam, the Director of Orthopedic Medicine at Medicover Hospital said, “Avascular necrosis (AVN) or osteonecrosis means the death of bone tissue due to a lack of blood supply. It causes tiny breaks in the bone and causes the bone to collapse. AVN can occur due to long-term use of steroids, excessive alcohol, hip injury, and other medical conditions. In his condition, the cause was due to steroid use after getting infected with Covid.”
Many of the patients like him have turned up with AVN post-Covid. After all the conservative treatment measures fail, the only option left is Total Hip Replacement (THR). He was an ideal patient for this surgery and without any comorbidities. He was a highly motivated patient who knew that the treatment option left was THR only and had searched quite a few doctors who would perform the surgery by Direct Anterior Approach (DAA). He underwent all the pre-operative investigations on an OPD basis which was found to be normal. He was assessed by the anaesthetist three days prior in OPD and was found to be suitable even for daycare surgery.
Dr. Gautam said, “The surgery involved removing the damaged bone and hip cartilage and replacing it with prosthetic components. Usually, the patient opting for a hip replacement surgery is admitted for 2-3 days in the hospital which not only increases the financial burden to the patient but also has a psychological impact of being in the hospital and the risk of hospital-acquired infections.”
During conventional hip replacement surgery through a posterior approach, the joint is approached from the back of the hip and requires a longer healing and recovery period.
“We have been exclusively performing THR by this relatively newer technique in India – Direct Anterior Approach (DAA) where patients will have to stay minimum possible in the hospital. The reason behind this is that the surgery is performed without cutting any muscle because of which the pain is very less and the patient starts moving soon after the effect of anaesthesia is over. The direct anterior approach offers other benefits like less pain, blood loss, and reduced chances of hip dislocation; the joint structure is not affected as well.”
“Moreover, with this newer technique, the patient does not have to follow any precautions after the surgery that were advisable and mandatory in the older techniques. He was admitted on the morning of the 28th, underwent surgery, and was seen walking in the corridor of the post-operative room within 4 hours of surgery. He was able to get discharged within 24 hours of surgery,” explained the doctor.
“My life was completely disrupted due to excruciating pain while walking which robbed me of my peace. It made even the simplest daily tasks feel daunting. I can now move freely and engage in activities that once seemed impossible. I’m filled with joy and eager to embrace life again as I did before,” said Mahesh Dhawalkar, the patient.
