New hip replacement techniques lets woman walk again

A national woman who was barely able to walk because of the deterioration of her hip bone can now lead a normal life thanks to new surgery. Thirty-four-year-old Amina Abdullah was the first patient from the UAE to undergo new hybrid hip replacement surgery at the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in New Delhi by Dr S.K.S. Marya, one of India's few surgeons who do it.

There are fewer than 10 centres worldwide that perform this new surgery. Marya said, "The hip joint is a ball and socket joint, the head of the thigh bone being the ball or stem and part of the pelvic being the socket. The top of the stem wears off, affecting the individual's gait. It could be due to arthritis or some other problem.

"In the case of Amina, it was because of a problem that took place in 1986. During her first delivery, her hip bone cracked. "Over the years, because of incomplete healing, the upper part of the thigh bone of her left leg wore out and reduced the length of her bone by four centimetres.

"It led to a lot of pain and trouble. Also, since she was moving by exerting an inordinate amount of pressure on her right knee, that too started wearing off. "In the past two years, movement had become next to impossible for her, especially climbing stairs and other strenuous exercise.

"I met her last year and, after a thorough evaluation, we gave her a date for June, but they couldn't make it to India. The surgery was done in July. "A few days ago I did a complete check-up on her, the three-month evaluation after surgery. She was completely fine. After six months we might be looking into right knee replacement surgery for her."

Amina is still undergoing physiotherapy treatment at home but is not under medication. "The hybrid total hip replacement is when one component is inserted without cement, that is the socket, and the stem put in with cement. For the top of the stem, we fix a ball made either from a metal alloy or ceramic," Marya said.

"It is adhered to the stem using a bone cement, which is usually an acrylic polymer. But I use bony flakes to minimise the possibility of rejection caused by the presence of a foreign body.
"There is minimal loss of blood during this surgery as opposed to conventional surgery. With this surgery, the patient is able to begin walking with support within two to three days.

"In about eight to 10 days the patient is discharged from hospital. But physiotherapy continues at home for a few months. The replaced hip joints last anywhere from 15 to 25 years in the majority of patients."

Amina had five more pregnancies after her first in 1986. But each was progressively more painful and movement became a big effort in the past two years. It affected her morale and health.

"I used to feel a lot of pain every day and it was becoming very difficult to get on. But my family was very supportive. "One of my husband's friends told us about the Al Khaleej Apollo Heartscan and Medical Centre.

"We went to them in 1999. They looked at my medical history and suggested that I go for surgery. It has helped alleviate my pain and limp. But my right knee is giving me a problem, and I will be going back for that."