High cost keeps surgery patients away

High cost of hip and knee replacement were keeping patients away from the desired treatment in developing countries.

"The cost of knee and hip replacement are high, and people in low income countries are often not able to avail the treatment," said Hugh U Cameron, Toronto based orthopaedic surgeon and designer of 'SROM' hip system.

The surgeon was in the city to do a critical revision hip reconstruction surgery with Peerless Hospital and B K Roy Research Centre.

The scenario in India was better though, he noted.

"One can undergo hip and knee replacement at the lowest cost in India as compared to other countries. The treatment is also of the highest category because of the high quality of the surgeons," he noted.

India was lagging behind in revision surgery, typically required within 13-20 years after primary surgery, he noted.

Countries like USA, UK, Canada and Japan had available fund and awareness and this led to better revision surgery but in India, it might take a while to pick up.

Cameron said usage of 'SROM' during the primary operation eased the revision surgery when required.