91-year-old undergoes rare hip surgery at rural hospital

A complex hip replacement surgery on a 91-year-old male patient was successfully performed at Sant Ishar Singh Ji Memorial Hospital (a NABH-accredited institution), Rara Sahib, by Dr Harpreet Singh Gill, Senior Orthopaedic and Joint Replacement Surgeon. The patient had suffered a hip fracture after a fall in the bathroom and was also managing multiple comorbidities, including diabetes, high blood pressure and a cardiac condition for which he was on regular medication.

Given such health complications, patients and their families often hesitate to opt for surgery at an advanced age. However, experts stress that delaying or avoiding surgery in such cases could result in permanent immobility and serious complications from being bedridden. Surgeries of this nature are typically performed at large city hospitals due to the associated risks. It is believed that this may be the first time a hip replacement surgery for a patient of this age has been performed at a rural hospital in Punjab.

Following the procedure, the patient began walking the very next day and was discharged within four days. He returned walking to the hospital for stitch removal, marking a significant improvement in his mobility and overall quality of life.

Sant Baljinder Singh Ji, Head of the Rara Sahib Samprada, congratulated the medical team and noted that patients from rural areas no longer need to travel to city hospitals for such treatments. “All required facilities are now available at this rural hospital and even complex surgeries can be performed here at reasonable rates,” he said.

Dr Harpreet Gill, who received training at Johns Hopkins Hospital, USA, stated, “Performing such a complex hip replacement for a fractured joint at a rural hospital is a significant challenge. It requires a coordinated team effort involving a senior medical specialist, anaesthetist, intensive care specialist and physiotherapist.”

Ludhiana