Proxima hip replacement for renal transplant patient in Chennai
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The "Proxima hip" replacement, a "mini wonder" and the latest in Hip replacement prostheses was implanted into the hip of a young male in a Chennai hospital yesterday. The surgery is probably the first of its kind world wide as there are no reports
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of the Proxima hip being implanted in a renal transplant patient. The operation was successfully performed by Dr.A.K.Venkatachalam of www.hipsurgery.in at the Bharathiraja hospital.
The surgery was a risky one as the patient had previously undergone
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two renal transplants, the first one a failure, and the second one working so far. Steroids used in immuno suppression to prevent graft rejection had induced bilateral avascular necrosis of hips. Intake of Immunosuppressant’s makes any joint replacement risky as there is a high incidence of infection.
This risky surgery was necessitated by the patient's occupation of that a lawyer.
The Proxima hip is a metal on metal hip. It consists of a very short stem implanted in the spongy bone of the upper part of the thigh bone. The socket is also made of a metal cup. It is a bone preserving implant as less bone is resected from the neck of the femur. Unlike other hip implants it has fewer propensities to produce thigh pain as the canal of the bone is not invaded.
It is possible to do this hip replacement ever when there is advanced destruction of the head due to avascular necrosis, says DR.Venkatachalam a UK trained Orthopedic surgeon. He has the distinction of performing this operation for the first time in South India for a young lady suffering from idiopathic bilateral avascular necrosis of hips Any young or middle aged patient requiring a hip replacement can now choose this implant over others as it has several advantages. In India most patients needing a hip replacement are young and this implant is suitable for them as a traditional total hip replacement necessitates resection of more bone. Even in the western countries like the US, Canada and UK where Osteoarthritis is rife, the Proxima hip is an alternative to a total hip replacement as it feels more normal and has less incidence of complications like dislocation, loosening thigh pain and survivorship.
The prosthesis was developed by an Italian orthopedic surgeon, Dr.Francisco Salvati and has a ten year follow up.
