‘Patients should opt for best suitable implants’

DNA Correspondent
Renowed orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Amar Ranawat, who made headlines for conducting the knee replacement surgery on former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, has advised patients to opt for best suited implants to cut the costs and yet get good results.

Dr Ranawat was speaking to media persons on Wednesday in Pune to announce the 10th meeting of Ranawat Orthopedic Conference on ‘Advances and Techniques in Joint Replacement Surgery’.

He said there was no evidence or research to prove that implants available in India are inferior to costlier imported implants.
“In India, doctors expect patients to buy implants and the latter assume that costlier implants are better. Hence, it is important to understand the needs of the patient before selecting implants,’’ said Ranawat.

Dr Ranawat said a wide variety of implants used in surgery are available. A knee implant used in a surgery could cost anything between Rs30,000 to Rs70,000 depending whether it is local or imported. The elder son of Padmabhushan Dr Chitranjan Singh Ranawat, based in New York and recognised as one of top 25

Americans Indians settled abroad was addressing the media. The conference started by Dr Ranawat, who is a pioneer of worldwide used surgical techniques and knee implants, is taking place for first time in Pune. “This time, a record number of 800 surgeons will take part. This is probably the biggest orthopedic conference and I started it with the aim of training doctors here about the best techniques, materials used abroad,’’ he said. Many advances techniques used abroad, like post operative pain management, would be discussed at the three-day conference being held from Thursday.

“In India, a patient is discharged after a minimum of five days of hospitalisation. Abroad, we have developed a fantastic pain management procedure, wherein a patient starts walking on the day after the surgery and doesn’t stay in hospital beyond three days. Lessening pain and improving quality of life is basic idea of surgery,’’ said senior Dr Ranawat.

Dr Parag Sancheti, chairman, Sancheti Institute of Orthopedics said latest trends in joint replacement like customised implants will be discussed. “At present, this concept is available only in a few hospitals in India. The conference aims at popularising it.’’