By IANS,
New Delhi: A 13-year-old Nigerian girl underwent a complicated hip replacement surgery at a private hospital here, doctors attending on her said Wednesday.
A statement by Indraprastha Apollo hospitals Wednesday said that Obijuru Amaka Oluwakemi had come all the way from Nigeria for treatment after complaints of severe pain in her left hip for an year. She was unable to stand or walk because of the pain.
She had earlier been treated in London for weakness in all four limbs, but even after that, she continued to be weak in the lower left limb.
On arrival at Apollo, she was advised to undergo total hip arthoplasty. The case was complicated as Oluwakemi suffered from sickle cell disorder, for which special care had to be taken.
“This is an exceptional case as normally this surgery is reserved for elderly or younger patients only. The other options were discarded as they had certain disadvantages owing to the young age of the patient,” said Yash Gulati, senior orthopedics consultant at the hospital.
Oluwakemi was mobilized with knee support after 24 hours of the operation.
She is now able to walk with support but has to follow certain instructions to avoid any complications. “She has to avoid cross-leg sitting and lower seating as a precaution for a few weeks. She is healthy and fully satisfied with the medical assistance being offered to her,” Gulati said.