Hip surgery at UBH after skills transfer programme

Thandeka Moyo-Ndlovu

UNITED Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) has started offering hip replacement surgery following a successful four-day orthopaedic camp which saw 10 patients having their gift of walking restored.

Hip replacement surgery, or hip arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure in which an orthopaedic surgeon removes the diseased parts of the hip joint and replaces them with new, artificial parts.

Hip replacement surgery can be performed as a total replacement or a hemi replacement.

For many years now, the service was only available in private institutions at a cost of about US$8 000 which was beyond the reach of the generality of members of the public.

With the end of the orthopaedic camp which was a skills transfer programme for UBH doctors, the service will now be available at a lesser charge from the hospital.

On Thursday, a team of orthopaedic surgeons led by Dr Jabulile Mthethwa who recently returned home from Scotland conducted total hip replacement surgeries on 10 patients who had undergone screening.

UBH acting clinical director Dr Harrison Rambanapasi said the 10 patients are still admitted to the hospital following successful procedures and now waiting for physiotherapy to enable them to walk again.

He said the 10 patients, five males, and five females, were drawn from Bulawayo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands, and Masvingo provinces.

“We are happy to announce that our four-day orthopedic total hip replacement camp was very successful, and we managed to operate on 10 intended patients and none of them developed any complications,” said Dr Rambanapasi.

He said the patients are admitted to the UBH where they are recuperating while waiting to undergo physiotherapy, which is part of the whole recovery service.”

“This was more of a skills exchange programme to equip our in-house orthopaedic surgeons with skills so that they are in a position to offer the service to our patients who for years were forced to travel to Harare and outside the country,” said Dr Rambanapasi.

“Total replacement is also pricey as the procedure can cost up to US$8 000 which was very restrictive to many clients in need of the service.”

Dr Rambanapasi said a number of UBH patients are in need of the surgery, but can’t afford the exorbitant fees being charged in private institutions.

“The demand is high and we are happy that our patients will be able to access this life-changing service right here. Our orthopaedic surgeons have confirmed they will be able to roll out the service from now on following the success of the camp,” he said.

“We will screen patients and ensure that those who qualify to get the service access it since we now have qualified and skilled personnel at UBH. Patients will however be required to buy implants which are locally available and then pay the normal hospital fees which cost less than US$200.”