Ludhiana, 15th March, 2011: People suffering from osteoarthritis for long can breathe a sigh of relief now as high-end knee replacement surgeries are emerging as an effective treatment option. To show how a joint replacement surgery is done using modern techniques in countries like New Zealand & Australia, a surgery demonstration was made by Dr Rocco Pitto, Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon, Middlemore Hospital, University of Auckland here at Hotel A on Tuesday. The workshop, organized by Ludhiana Orthopedic Association, aimed at creating awareness about advanced treatment techniques available in joint replacement surgery.

Talking about the growing prevalence of arthritis Dr Rocco said, “Total Hip Replacement was most commonly required in the geriatric population who fracture their hips very easily because of Osteoporotic bones, but off late, we have seen a spate of younger men and women requiring the procedure, because of Avascular Necrosis (AVN). Avascular Necrosis is a disease state where the blood supply to the hip is cut off because of alcohol abuse or excessive steroids. This deterioration of blood supply results in damage to the hip joint and thus it requires a Total Hip Replacement.”

Highlighting the new techniques in joint replacement surgery, Dr Rocco said, “Nowadays in Total Hip Replacement, there are a number of surgeries being performed by the surgeons, but industry-wide there is a move towards Ceramic as a great option for patients of all age groups. There are several combinations that are possible with Ceramic bearing options and the most widely accepted ones are Ceramic-on-Ceramic and Ceramic-on-Poly. Ceramic-on-Ceramic (COC) is a fairly expensive option that is preferred in younger patients who lead an extremely active life while Ceramic-on-Poly (COP) is an option that is used more commonly in older patients where their movements are limited.

Explaining the new technique to address such conditions, Dr Rocco said “In those patients who are not candidates for Total Hip Replacement for medical reasons, nowadays resurfacing may be a good option as the procedure requires minimum resection, anesthesia and surgery time without major complications.” “The new technology based surgery eliminates several steps during the surgery as compared to a conventional surgery.” It also means reduced infections, anesthesia requirements, blood loss, faster recovery and a long lasting implant solution,” added Dr Rocco.

The workshop was designed for orthopedic surgeons and other healthcare professionals interested in learning skills and techniques of Joint Replacement Surgery done in countries like New Zealand, Australia through surgical demonstration, symposia and guest lectures. The prestigious event saw participation from over 50 eminent orthopedic surgeons.