Hip replacement gives youth new life

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory disorder that primarily affects the spine leading to constant pain and stiffness from the neck all the way down to the lower back. The ailment can also lead to an overgrowth of the bones, which can result in abnormal fusion of the bones, restricting a person’s ability to perform routine activities. The story of 29-year-old Saptarishi Paul, who suffered from AS, personifies this condition. The design engineer’s constant search for a treatment option that would improve his quality of life opened doors to his best bet — a total hip replacement (THR). Today, weeks after undergoing the surgery, he acknowledges improvement in his mobility and muscle flexibility. As per Dr Ramneek Mahajan, directororthopedics and joint reconstruction, Max Smart Super Specialty Hospital, Saket, the condition mostly affects males and develops after the age of 20. “Majority of people who suffer from AS are born with a HLA-B27 gene. This antigen is basically a protein that is located on the surface of the white blood cells which causes our immune system to dysfunction.” Typical symptoms of AS includes backache, stiffness and, at times, a slouch. If the back pain persists for 5-6 weeks, even after medication and physiotherapy, one should consult a doctor immediately. For Saptarishi, the symptoms started showing when he was a kid. He would complain about increased joint and muscle pain in the morning. Saptarishi was later diagnosed with AS. Gradually, the hip joint disorder reached to a stage where it started impacting his hips and knees. Describing his first meeting with the patient, Dr Mahajan says, “He had a scissor gait pattern of walking, that is, he was twisting and dragging himself to take a few steps. With an abnormal posture, performing basic routine activities like sitting on a chair, standing, walking was a struggle for him.” While there is no cure for the ailment, in the initial stages there are treatments available to reduce the pain and stiffness. In advanced cases, such as Saptarishi’s, surgical intervention is the last resort. The goal of THR is to relieve pain, restore mobility, enhance stability of the patients. Dr Mahajan was determined to give Saptarishi a chance to lead a productive life. It took almost 2 weeks for his team to plan the surgery. Almost seven weeks ago, in an hour-long surgery, Dr Mahajan successfully replaced his hip joints with dual mobility prosthesis instead of the conventional replacement to reduce the risk of hip dislocation and to provide him greater motion. With the help of navigation-based hip replacement technology, Dr Mahajan and his team were able to provide perfect alignment to the new hips which in turn aids faster recovery and longevity of the artificial prosthesis. Post-surgery, the following day Saptarishi was delighted to be able to sit in the right posture on his bed for the first time in years. The next few days, through physical rehabilitation he started training his muscles to move. Today, six weeks later, he has much greater mobility. Saptarishi has been advised to undergo physiotherapy sessions for at least six months to strengthen his muscles. Although, he still uses crutches for extra support, he is confident to take a few steps without them as well.

PHOTO: HTCS