OGH scores a half century of free joint replacements

In a remarkable achievement, Osmania General Hospital (OGH) in association with Helping Hands Foundation (HHF) completed 50 total joint replacements for the economically weaker sections of the society.

Announcing the feat on Tuesday, HHF President Mujtaba Hasan Askari said, “Most of the patients who require total hip and knee joint replacement are young and are bread earners for family.”

Dr Kodandapani, HOD & Professor of Orthopaedics at OGH informed, “These patients surgeries on account of Osteoarthritis, Bone Tuberculosis, trauma and a significant number them are developing a condition called ‘Avascular Necrosis’.”

“This leads to severe pain and immobility and renders a patient incapable of moving around freely.

If untreated this condition will lead total collapse of the hip or knee joint,” said the doctor.

Elaborating on the health of these patients, Dr Shahid Ali of the orthopaedic team of OGH said, “Poor dietary habits, sedentary lifestyle, coupled with alcohol abuse, smoking and chewing tobacco increases the risk many folds in these youngsters, who are being diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee joint.”

“Un-cemented and imported implants are being used for the procedures. The cost of implant works out to between Rs 50,000 and Rs 70,000 depending on the type,” he adds.

“The entire cost of joint replacement surgery is free to the patient; HHF sponsors the cost of implant and medical management is free at OGH.

One of the most important aspects of this programme is that the infection rate was less than one per cent which is within the prescribed limits,” said Dr Kodandapani.