INDIA: Joint Replacement An Option For Osteoarthritis Patients

MUMBAI (Harmony Magazine) recently carried an extensive feature on Osteoarthritis. The feature gave first hand accounts of individuals who had joint replacement as well as interviews with specialists. FACT FILE * Close to 10 million people in India suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee * Doctors say the country is on the verge of an “arthritis epidemic” * India is one of the 12 strategic focus areas for orthopaedic device manufacturers * In 1998, 1,000 surgeries were conducted in India * By 2003, the figure was 9,000 * In 2009: 21,000 hip and 39,000 knee replacements expected * Hospital stay: 4 days * Back to walking: within hours after surgery * Maximum movement (climbing stairs and gardening): 1 to 3 months * Knee implant: 11 cm long, 6.4-6.8 cm wide; Hip: 20 cm long, 1-1.2 cm wide * Procedure: Tiny incision, no damage to key muscles, low risk, no pain * Cost: Rs 100,000 to Rs 300,000 * After surgery: Take vitamins and calcium, go for regular health checks, keep home and workplace well-lit and clutter free. * Can: Walk, cycle and swim * Can’t: Run, ski, play tennis, or jump in or out of a moving bus Joint replacement From being a last resort until a few years ago, joint replacement is now considered a common and successful option to increase quality of life for patients of osteoarthritis, reports Teena Baruah. Making the decision easier are implants and procedures that are minimally invasive and promise quicker recovery. Click JOINT REPLACEMENT To Read the feature