Patients below 40 undergoing knee replacement surgery at PGI

Naina Mishra

Chandigarh, January 14

Joint replacement surgery isn’t just for the elderly anymore. The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here is witnessing a rise in knee replacement surgeries among younger patients reporting early osteoarthritis.

From conducting over 20 surgeries in a month, the orthopaedic unit is now conducting 40-50 surgeries a month. Dr Aditya Aggarwal, an orthopaedic surgeon, says obesity and sedentary lifestyle are to be blamed as patients as young as 35 years are now undergoing total knee replacement at the PGI. These patients are suffering from early osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Usually, joint replacement is required in patients above 60 years of age.

Another trend that has been noticed is that a lot of patients have started reporting osteonecrosis of hip wherein the blood supply to the bone tissue in the hip joint is disrupted, leading to a collapse of hip joint. Dr Aggarwal says, “A lot of patients with osteonecrosis are reporting at the OPDs. It is probably attributed to excessive use of steroids during Covid. Earlier, only three to four patients used to report at the OPDs and now at least eight patients are coming with hip problems.”

“Lifestyle choices and injury prevention are crucial for managing joint health at a younger age. Modern and sedentary lifestyle, characterised by prolonged periods of sitting and lack of physical activity, contribute to joint issues and weight gain, leading to a higher risk of osteoarthritis,” he adds.

Sharing tips on how to prevent osteoarthritis, Dr Aggarwal says, “Preventing osteoarthritis in younger adults involves adopting a proactive approach to joint health. Maintaining a healthy weight reduces the risk of developing osteoarthritis. Focus on exercises that target the muscles around the knees, hips and other vulnerable joints.”

He advises if a patient has got advanced arthritis, he or she should get treatment as early as possible so that it doesn’t lead to more deformity and degeneration of other joints and loss of bone around knee. The surgery is more complicated with no guaranteed results. He advised early management of such patients.

He also advocates total knee replacement as an enduring solution, citing less invasive and highly successful advancements in technology. Advanced TKR surgeries offer lasting pain relief, improved mobility, faster recovery and durable implants.