Like a brand new knee

Osteoarthritis of knees affects predominantly the senior citizen age group. Total knee replacement is a permanent solution to the aged suffering to provide permanent pain relief. The elderly become pain free and the quality of life improves. However, there has been a universal complaint that the majority of implants available in India, including in Chennai, do not allow more than 100 degrees of knee bending even when used with navigational aid as the implant is not designed to provide this extra bend. They may have difficulty in climbing stairs, using Indian-style toilets and squatting on the floor. This is a great disadvantage to a majority of south Indians who prefer to squat on the floor for prayer, social activities and meals. Therefore, many persons refrained from undergoing the surgery and suffer in silence. Now, with the advent of a new type of prosthesis, this need not deter people from having a knee replacement. A new prosthesis allows knee bending up to 155 degrees, points out Dr A K Venkatachalam, consultant orthopaedic surgeon. The patient has to be motivated to regain high knee flexion and participate in early and aggressive physiotherapy. They should not be obese and the pre-operative knee bend should be above 90 degrees. This prosthesis is implanted by special instrumentation which is minimally invasive and does not damage the tissues. Hence, post-operative pain is less and rehabilitation is faster. High flexion knee prosthesis - Special knee implants are now available which provide more flexion or bending at the knee to suit Indian, and South Asian habits of kneeling for prayer, or sitting cross-legged on the ground for meals or social purposes. Muslims in particular need this to offer prayers. Japanese customs also require high knee flexion. Even Westerners have begun to appreciate the benefits of high flexion knee prosthesis as they can pursue hobbies like gardening and are also gratified for the ability to take up recreational activities. Dr Venkatachalam recently performed the operation on a 65-year-old Muslim doctor from Lucknow, at Venkateswara Hospital, Nandanam, in Chennai. This is the first time in Chennai and Tamil Nadu that the high flexion knee prosthesis has been implanted with new advanced instrumentation. Source: PR/AP