Mulago Hospital has carried out 26 successful knee replacements with 9 arthroscopy surgeries in the just concluded two weeks that ended last week.
Dr Rosemary Byanyima, the executive director of Mulago hospital revealed that this years’ two
weeks camp from March 17 was one of the most successful camps they have held since 2015.
“In-plants are so expensive that most times even when the surgeons are able to do the surgeries the patients are not able to afford them or their relatives,” She noted. Adding, that with time hopefully
government will be able to bridge the gap and acquire them on behalf
of the patients
Mulago National referral hospital together with her orthopaedic partners from the United states and neighbouring Kenya have been holding an annual knee camp carrying out total knee replacements since 2015.
The camp is meant to extend this super specialized service to the many Ugandans that are in dire need for such a service however notable to meet the huge expenses that come with it. A knee replacement (inplant ) costs anywhere between Shs7million and Shs8 million in most hospitals in Uganda and other parts of the world, depending on the complexity of the injury.
However, over time, Dr Byanyima stressed that the need to acquire the implants with the help of their partners who were able to mobilize some and be able to serve was realized as a key hindrance.
Dr Bangirani Alexander, a senior consultant orthopaedic surgeon and coordinator for the camp, a total knee
replacement involves replacing a worn out deformed knee joint with an artificial knee joint (in plants ) for patients who have severe osteoarthritis which may be caused from a variety of issues including road traffic crushes, age as a result of knee degeneration but also over weight.
“f I showed you someone who has had arthroscopic surgery you might not know that this patient has had surgery because the knee looks normal and that’s the beauty of this when you do the ordinary way of opening up patient has a big wound , the healing time is longer and a longer time to rehabilitate. The patients have a knee replacement they expected them to be sitting up the next day, walking with clashes after 48 hours and after three months walking without any assistance and of course a new breath of life,” Dr Bangirani said.
He also notes that the disease affects the joints mainly the cartilage which is eaten away, joint becomes deformed and borne rubbing on each other which is quite painful and creates slow in movement and hard to sleep
Dorothy Namukasa 56 an in patient and resident Namugongo, narrated how she had endured the pain for over six years with the help of pain killers though prescribed to have a surgery three years back.
