Hip & Joint Pain Amongst Indians is 10-15 Years Early Due to Overuse of Steroids and Alcoholism: Experts

By 121 News Reporter

Mohali 03^rd March:-- The onset of joint pain amongst Indians is 10-15 years early due to overuse of steroids and alcoholism. Sharing this, and more information on why joint pain had become such a common malady in the country, Dr (Prof) Ramesh K Sen, Director-Orthopaedics-Fortis Hospital Mohali and Prof Ross Crawford, FRACS, Chair in Orthopaedic Research at the Queensland University of Technology, Australia addressed mediapersons, here today.

 While interacting with Media Dr Sen, said that the number of joint replacement surgeries in the world is increasing by almost 20-25% every year. While there is increase in level of awareness and faith in surgical treatment that is contributing to this rise, there is also an upsurge in the number of patients in the various countries. Dr Sen explained that India, unlike developed parts of the world, also witnesses an early onset of Hip Joint Pain amongst the population due to a disease called Avascular Necrosis (AVN). “AVN is described as the death of tissue or cartilage between hip joints due to discontinued or restricted blood supply. This cartilage is responsible for smooth movement of the bone joints and acts as a cushion between the two bones. However, with this cartilage wearing out, the bones come in contact with each other, leading to severe pain. Usually any injury, dislocation of joint bones or excessive alcoholism or use of steroids and painkillers at a young age, could lead to AVN. Since its symptoms develop quite gradually and remain mild for a long period of time, patients often show up at the stage when they are hardly left for any other option than joint replacement. Dr. Sen further said that Hip replacement surgery has been giving a new lease of life to millions of patients across the world every year. The surgery has helped many patients get back on their feet with vastly improved quality of life. Recent advents in technology have made it possible for complicated surgeries like hip replacement to be carried out with greater ease and higher rates of success.  Experts at the workshop were convinced that this would go a long way in improving overall quality of life of the people in the state.

Whereas Prof Crawford said, that Fortis’ Orthopaedics Department is a Centre of Excellence in its truest form. They have the best and highly experienced surgeons assisted by very competent teams. The infrastructure and post-operative care is comparable to the best in the world. That’s why I came to Fortis so that together, Dr Sen and I could update the surgeons from this area in advanced hip replacement surgery. Prof Crawford talked about one of the most advanced Total Hip Replacement Systems developed by a renowned US company. This revolutionary THR technology and surgical technique is being successfully used in countries like UK and Europe for decades and is privileged with high clinical outcomes and lowest revision rate of less than 0.5 percent per year, among such systems, said Dr. Crawford.