Elbows replaced in two hours

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Elbows replaced in two hours

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Elbows_replaced_in_two_hours/articleshow/2378\

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NEW DELHI: Fifty-two-year-old Savita Devi could hardly move her elbows. Red

and swollen up, the elbow joints experienced excruciating pain, every time

she tried to move it. After suffering for over four years, Savita Devi, who

was a patient of acute rheumatoid arthritis, now tosses her granddaughter

Roshni into the air with utmost ease.

The pain has gone and so has the swelling and stiffness of her elbow joints.

She underwent a total elbow replacement surgery, a highly effective surgery.

Dr Naveen Talwar, orthopaedic surgeon at Sir Ganga Ram hospital, who has

conducted seven such successful surgeries in the past eight months, says

lack of awareness both among doctors and patients has been the cause for the

surgery's low prevalence.

" Hips and knees are common weight bearing joints and are therefore more

prone to arthritis. Patients are now aware of hips and knees being replaced.

But those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis of the elbow or post-traumatic

arthritis should know that elbow replacement surgery is also being conducted

in India, " Dr Talwar says.

According to experts, at present only 2% of all arthroplasty (joint

replacement surgeries) are that of the elbow. Rheumatoid arthritis at the

elbow, however, accounts for 40% of all arthritis cases. Boasting of a good

success rate, elbow replacement surgery lasts two hours and requires the

patient to be in hospital for three days.

" At the end of two weeks, the patient will be able to move his or her elbows

at will and have no pain. The bio-inert implants, made of either titanium or

stainless steel, give the patient relief for at least 15 years and cause no

reaction with the tissues, " he adds.

Dr Subhasish Deb, orthopaedic surgeon from Kolkata, says, " Elbow replacement

surgery is not very common in India. Till now, there weren't many patients

coming forward for it and so the number of doctors trained in this procedure

was also low. " Senior orthopaedic surgeon Dr J P Manocha says, " An elbow

joint replacement may also be used immediately following elbow fractures in

elderly patients. "

Elbow replacement arthroplasty restores functional mechanics to the joint by

removing scar tissue, balancing muscles and inserting a joint replacement in

place of the destroyed elbow. One part of the artificial joint is fixed to

the inside of the humerus (arm bone) and the other part to the inside of the

ulna (one of the forearm bones). The two parts are then connected using a

hinge pin that gives the joint stability.

As for the surgery, after anaesthesia, the surgeon makes an incision in the

back of the elbow joint helping prevent damage because most of the blood

vessels and nerves are on the inside of the elbow. The tendons and ligaments

are then moved, exposing the joint. The joint surfaces of the ulna and the

radius are removed with a surgical saw. The surgeon then prepares the hollow

marrow of the ulna to hold the metal stem. He then repeats the procedure on

the humerus.