Lumbini Provincial Hospital conducts first hip transplant surgery

LUMBINI: Lumbini Provincial Hospital in Butwal has achieved a milestone by successfully performing its first-ever hip transplant and cervical spine surgery.

The hospital successfully conducted these two complex surgeries which are uncommon outside the capital due to a lack of equipment and workforce. A team led by Senior Orthopedic Neurosurgery, and Arthritis Specialist, Dr Yudhishthir Raj Khadka performed the hospital’s first hip transplant surgery on Durga Bahadur Shrees (56) from Phoksing in Kaligandaki Rural Municipality-5 of Gulmi on April 24.

With the success of the hip transplant surgery, hospital officials say that patients in Lumbini Province and surrounding areas no longer need to travel to Kathmandu or India for such procedures.

“I sustained hip injuries when I fell while collecting fodder 12 years ago. It was causing me a lot of pain and discomfort,” Shreesh said. “Following the successful surgery, I can now walk without difficulty.”

Dr Khadka, who received training at Sir Gangaram Hospital, New Delhi, on a year-long scholarship, has been rendering specialized services for spinal injury and osteoarthritis patients at the hospital. “We can now perform surgeries right here in Butwal,” Dr Khadka said.

The cost of hip transplant surgery for patients is approximately Rs 250,000. While treatment and surgery are provided free of cost, patients are required to purchase artificial joints which are expensive.

In addition to the hip transplant, Dr Khadka’s team has also executed the hospital’s first cervical spine surgery. Damodar KC from Sisne-6 in Rukum West, a conflict victim, underwent the surgery, at the hospital last month.

Dr. Netra Bahadur Rana, the information officer at Lumbini Provincial Hospital, said the hospital’s Orthopedic Spine Surgery Department has been strengthened to cater to spinal surgery patients. “Except for a few complex cases, most treatments are now available at Lumbini Provincial Hospital,” he added.

The 114-year-old hospital caters to patients from both Lumbini Province and neighboring provinces. In 2022/23, the 400-bed facility served 11.64 million patients, conducting over 10,000 surgeries and handling over 12,000 delivery cases.