A 36-year-old Iraqi man weighing 162 kg has regained the ability to walk after undergoing a technically complex total hip replacement surgery at a private hospital. Doctors described this procedure as one of the most challenging joint replacement surgeries performed on a patient with severe obesity at the facility.
The patient, Ahmed Abdulmuin Kadhim, suffered from severe pain and gradual loss of mobility caused by secondary degenerative arthritis of his right hip. After years of ineffective conservative treatment in Iraq, he decided to seek medical assistance in India.
The patient's excessive weight presented significant challenges for both surgeons and anesthesiologists. The large weight complicated the surgical intervention and implant placement, and it also created a substantially higher mechanical load on the artificial joint, necessitating meticulous planning and the use of specialized implants.
The operation was performed at Max Super Speciality Hospital in Patparganj under the guidance of Dr. (Professor) Anil Arora, who is the chairman and head of the Orthopedics and Joint Replacement Department. The team carefully planned the fixation strategy and implant selection to ensure long-term stability despite the patient's high weight. Dr. Arora noted that performing a total hip replacement on a 162 kg patient involves considerable technical difficulties, emphasizing the critical importance of precise implant positioning and stable fixation with thorough preoperative planning to achieve a successful outcome.
A femoral stem implant with a collar was used during the operation for additional support of the replaced joint. The surgery proceeded without complications, and post-operative X-rays confirmed the satisfactory position and stability of the implants. Following the procedure, the patient underwent controlled physiotherapy and rehabilitation aimed at strengthening the muscles around the operated hip joint and gradually restoring mobility. He reported early pain relief, demonstrated improved walking ability, and was discharged seven days after the operation before returning to Iraq.
