The Hindu : Advanced surgery for osteoarthritis

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 04, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

Advanced surgery for osteoarthritis

By K. Lakshmi

Terry Salo

CHENNAI MAY 3. Terry Salo, a Canadian who underwent a Birmingham Hip Resurfacing Surgery (BHRS) at the Apollo Speciality Hospital, said he was ready to take up his rowing hobby afresh, thanks to the procedure.

Terry was suffering from osteoarthritis, the end stage of hip arthritis, common in some Western countries. He was operated by a team headed by Vijay C. Bose, senior consultant-Orthopaedics and Traumatology, in Chennai.

"I am a rower who has been deprived of the pleasure for about six years due to excruciating pain in my hip, but now I'm ready to live a new life", said a cheerful Salo.

"I was forced to stay indoors as the pain would be unbearable with a few steps of walk and I had to entirely depend on my walking stick," he said.

Recalling his quest for specialised treatment, Mr. Salo said "though countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom provide treatment, I chose India as it is a combination of cost-effectiveness, trained professionals and better medicare."

Talking about the advantages of the new surgery, Dr. Vijay said "unlike the conventional hip replacement operation where a `metal on plastic' bearing is inserted into the two surfaces of the hip joint, BHRS has a `metal on metal' bearing that is everlasting and less complicated.

``It is recommended for the elderly who are relatively inactive as the plastic liner used in the operation has a limited life span. But, a person who undergoes BHRS can resume active life with the least restrictions within a couple of days.''

Asked about the prevalence of hip arthritis in India, he said secondary hip arthritis was more common among the youth and it was important to create an awareness of the advanced medical care available.

Mr. Salo would be back in Chennai in January to undergo the surgery on the right side of his body, he said.

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