“Long term care following joint replacement surgery is mandatory for optimum

results” Dr. Nilen shah

Joint replacement surgery if firmly established the world over, and also in India as
the mainstay of treatment for advanced arthritis. Due to advances in implant design
& technology, today an implanted joint can last for decades and even lifelong.
However , continuous care and follow-up is a must to ensure complete success and
to pick up cases early which may require additional corrective action.
A case in point is Mrs. Hawabai Zaveri, a 94-year-old matriarch and resident of
Dongri, Mumbai .
Mrs. Zaveri was operated 20 years ago by Dr.K.T.Dholakia for total hip replacement
.(Late Dr.K.T.Dholakia is considered to be the father of joint replacement surgery in
India). She did very well from this surgery but unfortunately broke her other hip!!
Dr Nilen shah operated her for a hip replacement 10 years ago for her other hip.
She was under continual and 6 monthly supervision by Dr. Nilen Shah . It was
observed that the hip replacement which was done 20 years ago showed signs
of loosening and wear of the implant. Mrs. Zaveri was advised to undergo a repeat
corrective surgery on her hip . This was 4 years ago when she was 90 years old and
the family understandably did not want any surgical intervention.
Unfortunately due to the wear and loosening her bone around the implant had
become very fragile. She fractured this bone and was in severe pain . Now she was
94 and had an even bigger problem than 4 years ago as the bone had broken and
there was wear and loosening.
She was admitted to Bombay hospital and after adequate pre-
operative investigations and stabilization of her medical conditions, she was re-
operated on the hip which was done 20 years ago and a new modern implant was
deployed. With God’s grace, she has recovered well and is back to her home with
loving family and has even started walking. Mr.Rafique (son of mrs hawabai) has
no words to thank modern science enough and believes that this is the perfect
mother’s day gift for his mother.
Dr. Nlen shah says that if corrective actions would have been taken at an earlier
time then possibly mrs Zaveri could have avoided the unfortunate episode of
fracture .
Contact: www.drnileshshah.com

A continual monitoring at least once in 2 years , of all joint replacement patients is

a must for best outcomes , says Dr. Shah.