The National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu (NOHE) has commencd total joint replacement surgery for which a number of patients have benefitted and testify to its efficacy.
The hospital in collaboration with Johnson and Johnson Company trained personnel on the special surgery at a workshops anchored by Specialist Joint Replacement Surgeons from the United Kingdom using models and live surgeries.
Medical Director of NOHE, Dr. Chukwumemeka Eze, who spoke during the workshop disclosed that Total Joint Replacement has become a routine surgery at NOHE. According to him, the benefits of developing the practice are immense as people do not have to waste their resources and take the risk of unregulated practice in some overseas countries.
"The surgeons in NOHE are qualified and experienced Nigerians who have a mission to alleviate the sufferings of our people," he said.
Head of Clinical Services and Chief Consultant Orthopaedic surgeon in the hospital, Dr. Cajetan Nwadinigwe, regretted that Degenerative Joint Disorders have not been receiving adequate attention in Nigeria.
"It is one aspect of Orthopaedic practice that had been neglected over the years due to lack of facilities and manpower development. Most people that require such services end up traveling overseas. Majority of those patients return with tales of woe and disappointment; not only that they pay exorbitant fees, they fall into the hands of charlatans in some notorious Asian Countries," Nwandinigwe said.
Indications for Total Joint Replacement occur as people get older with arthritis and younger ones develop early arthritic disorders as a result of trauma, infection and sports injury etc. In this light, NOHE decided to establish a functional Joint Replacement Unit.
Johnson and Johnson Company of the UK supplied the equipment and implants; and also undertook to train the personnel on the use of the equipment. Meanwhile, NOHE started with Total Hip Replacement Surgery. The equipment for Total Knee Replacement has been procured and surgery will soon take off in that area.
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