US Surgeon Highlights Delay In Hip Treatment Among Indians During Hyderabad Visit
“In the US, many patients come early for treatment as it is covered by insurance, but here we see neglected fractures and severe hip damage after years of pain": Dr Andrew B. Wickline
HYDERABAD: Dr Andrew B. Wickline, who is credited with performing nearly 5,000 robotic hip replacement surgeries in New York, said here on Saturday that Indian patients were often reaching hospitals late, making procedures more challenging. Untreated fractures, delayed treatment, and the high-cost burden due to limited insurance coverage were major concerns in India, Dr Wickline said.
He was speaking at surgical workshop and academic session for 300 doctors, during his second visit to the city. He also participated in a live robotic joint replacement surgery.
“In the US, many patients come early for treatment as it is covered by insurance, but here we see neglected fractures and severe hip damage after years of pain. Patients may delay surgery because of cost concerns. That makes cases much harder,” he said.
Dr Wickline, who has been performing direct anterior hip replacement surgeries since 2007, said the technique avoided muscle cutting, helping patients recover faster with less pain. “Patients undergo surgery in the morning and are often discharged within six hours. We are also now performing many procedures without opioid painkillers,” he added.
Uday Krishna Myneni, head of orthopaedics and chief robotic joint replacement surgeon, said Indian patients frequently reported only in advanced stages when the hip joint was severely damaged. He noted that post-Covid steroid use has also increased hip problems among younger patients aged above 35.
“Many patients developed avascular necrosis after excessive steroid intake during Covid treatment. By the time they approach us, the hip is badly damaged and replacement becomes necessary,” he explained.
He said robotic-assisted procedures improve implant positioning and reduce complications, while newer inter-muscular surgical approaches allow same-day discharge with minimal pain.
Indian Arthroplasty Association Vice-president Dr Rajkumar Natesan said awareness and early screening were important to avoid complications. The need for patients, especially elderly individuals and fracture patients, to undergo routine mobility and walking assessments before complications worsen.