Date:17/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/17/stories/2006121714580200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Patient-friendly innovations in joint replacement surgeries

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: A group of U.K. orthopaedic specialists has teamed up with orthopaedicians at Apollo Hospitals to introduce advanced and patient-friendly techniques in joint replacement surgery here.

As part of this, the U.K. experts performed a live surgery for the knee and the hip last week.

The team included Nicholas London, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Harrowgate District Hospital, John Mitchell, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Harrowgate District Hospital and S. Venkat, Consultant Orthopaedician, Countess of Chester Hospital. Senior consultants at Apollo

Vijay C. Bose and Ajit Yadav also took part.

The Joint Replacement Unit of Apollo Hospitals has developed a team of specialised surgical consultants, anaesthetists, physiotherapists and counsellors, who will cater to the various needs of patients undergoing joint replacement surgery. Dr. Nicholas London, specialising in minimally invasive knee replacement surgeries said most procedures focused on the minimally invasive technique.

With the assistance of computer navigation, incisions had become smaller, therefore making surgeries also most patient-friendly, he added.

Over 50 surgeons from across the four Southern states viewed surgery live.