Mangaluru: Fungal infection patient treated with 2-stage hip replacement

MANGALURU: Doctors at KMC Hospitals claimed to have achieved a medical feat amidst the Covid-19 outbreak by successfully conducting a hip replacement surgery on a 45-year-old patient who was also suffering from fungal infection.
Dr Yogeesh D Kamat at KMC Hospital performed the replacement surgery supported by a multi-department specialist team. The patient is a stage actor who suffered a fall earlier and had undergone a hip surgery in his town, but still rendered unable to bear weight for months following surgery and his condition deteriorated each passing day.
“It was thought to be a case of failure due to necrosis – the hip bone loses its blood supply and dies sometimes after fracture and he was therefore advised to re-do hip surgery. During surgery, I did not find the internal tissues normal, though it was not like typical infections with pus inside. We changed the plan of surgery and instead put him on a temporary prosthetic spacer made of cement with added antibiotics. Tissues were sent for detailed microbiology examination, which revealed a fungus growing inside the hip joint. Despite the lockdown restrictions, the patient’s second stage surgery had to be undertaken in April, when the temporary prosthesis was removed and complex reconstruction of his hip joint was undertaken,” Dr Yogeesh D Kama said.
The total hip replacement allowed the patient to walk fully weight bearing on his hip the day following surgery and progress soon to walking with minimal aid and to climb stairs after a gap of seven months. He is now doing well and plans to gradually return to his normal life.