81-yr-old woman stands tall after knee replacement

Sunderben Chheda was suffering from knee problems for last 15 years, was bed-ridden

Eightyone-year-old Sunderben Chheda, who was totally immobile, had lost all hopes that she would ever get back to normal. Sunderben had been suffering from knee problems since 15 years and was bed ridden for more than three months. She was not able to stand as her knees had become extremely weak. Her condition had reached a stage wherein a relative of hers brought her a wheelchair thinking that she would need to use it for the rest of her life. Her family members were seen running from pillar to post consulting doctors who could help her get some kind of relief from the tremendous pain which she was going through. "In the month of May, we happened to met Dr Siddharth Yadav from Fortis Hiranandani Hospital in Vashi who diagnosed my mother-in-law minutely and came to a conclusion that she needed a knee implant which could benefit her immensely. After being put on numerous medicines and tonics in order to help her recover from the muscle pain, the doctors finally decided that she would now be ready for the operation," says Sunderben's daughter-in-law Chhaya. After the operation, there was a major difference observed in the patient. Unlike earlier times where the patient would be seen facing regular swelling, it had all vanished now. A week after the operation, Sunderben could walk slightly and as off now, she is free from all the pain and is completely fit, in fact much better than what she was previously also. The doctor who performed this surgery on the patient said that considering the fact that the patient was immobile for such a long time, performing this surgery was definitely a major challenge for him and his team. "The patient was 81-year-old and bed ridden for 3 months, because of which her bone and muscles had become very weak. Her blood vessels (arteries) were calcified as well, so the challenge during the operation was to implant prosthesis without damaging tissue and circulation. The major challenge after the operation was to regain her leg strength, body balance and self confidence for which her will power and her children's support have played key role," says Yadav. The surgery was seen taking more than an hour's time. Yadav adds that earlier people were seen going to Mumbai for surgeries, but now with state-of-the-art hospitals and good results being obtained by doctors in the city itself, patients no longer feel the need to go to Mumbai. "A few things which people need to keep in mind while going in for such surgeries as such is that they should be done by well-trained surgeons in hospitals with special operation theaters, intensive care unit and strict infection control measures. The use of a good implant of an international brand is also important," concludes Yadav.