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Hyderabad sees spike in knee surgeries
With the steady increase in the number of obesity cases, the number of total knee replacements is also increasing. In the past, people above the age of 60, used to go for total knee replacement. But in recent years, due to increased awareness, rise in obesity and desire to lead a quality life, people even in their mid 40s are going for knee replacement.
​Hyderabad: With the steady increase in the number of obesity cases, the number of total knee replacements is also increasing. In the past, people above the age of 60, used to go for total knee replacement. But in recent years, due to increased awareness, rise in obesity and desire to lead a quality life, people even in their mid 40s are going for knee replacement.
The poor live with knee problems until the pain becomes unbearable. But the rising middle class is going in for surgeries. Akhil, a software engineer who works in the US says, “I came to India to get a total knee replacement as it is a lot cheaper and also I want to lead a quality life as I love playing baseball.”
One of the reasons why so many are going in for total knee replacement is a person can walk back home the very next day.
Total knee replacement costs anywhere between Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh depending on the age of the patient, hospital and other factors. According to Orthopedic Registry, the number of surgeries in 2016-17 (till date) has crossed 70,000 and this number is based on the data available with the top hospitals in the country. The number could easily be thrice if all the hospitals are taken into account.
Dr Guruva Reddy, managing director & chief joint replacement surgeon, Sunshine Hospitals, who performs about 20 surgeries a day says, “17 years ago when I came back to India, there were just about 500 knee replacements done in a year in Hyderabad. Now, the number has gone close to 10,000 a year.”
Women are more prone to knee problems. Dr Neelam V Reddy, chief joint replacement surgeon, Star Centre for Joint Replacement, Star Hospitals says, “Women are more prone to get knee problems and much earlier than men for several reasons including genetic disposition and obesity.”
In the western world, people are more prone to getting hip arthritis which is not the case in India. As for as the knee pain is concerned, for every five women, only one male is affected. Rheumatoid Arthititis is common among women and the reason is obesity. Women are four times more prone to damage.
Women, especially from rural areas, rush to doctors in the fourth stage when there is no other option but for a total knee replacement surgery. Uday Krishna Myneni, joint replacement surgeon, KIMS Hospitals says, “There are four stages of arthritis. People should go for a Knee Society Score (KSS) which will help in determining the state of the knee.”
In case of the poor in and around Hyderabad, people depend on government hospitals for total knee replacements. Dr K Kodandapani, head of the department, Osmania General Hospital (OGH) says, “About 100 total knee replacement surgeries are done at OGH in a year.”
