Balrampur docs help man walk again

LUCKNOW: Doctors at Balrampur hospital performed a hip-replacement surgery on a 59-yearold patient, who was unable to walk after he met a road accident seven months ago.

“He met an accident in March and came to us on September 14, after visiting several government and private hospitals,” said Dr Rishi Saxena, senior orthopaedic surgeon and chief medical superintendent at Balrampur hospital.

“We planned his hip replacement keeping in view his age and the need for an implant that would last as well as give maximum flexibility.”

Doctors chose the cup of the joint (the one placed in the hip bone) made of a cement-like material while the stem of the hip joint (placed in between the limb bone) was made of non-cement material. This, Dr Saxena said allowed the bone to develop a firm grip on the implant.

“Unlike the usual implants used in surgeries, we got the cup and stem from different places and combined them for the operation. This combination will last more than 30 years while the conventional implants last for over 20 years,” said Dr Saxena.

Hospital director Dr Rajeev Lochan said though private hospitals charge ₹6 to ₹7 lakh for this kind of operation, here the surgery as well as medicines were provided free of charge.

The patient has started walking and will be discharged in a few days. He will have to come for a follow up once or twice and can live a normal life.