After suffering for 15 years due to an ankle fracture that led to arthritis from cartilage injury, a 45-year-old resident of Goa, underwent an innovative total ankle replacement surgery.
The surgery, a first-of-its-kind in Goa was performed on February 23, 2024, and is a milestone in orthopedic care in the region, said Dr Beat Hintermann, who travelled to Goa from Basel in Switzerland, to perform the surgery.
The procedure involved replacing the damaged ankle joint with a prosthetic implant and aimed to restore the function of the ankle, reduce pain and improve the patient's quality of life.
The surgical team led by Dr Mahendra Kudchadkar, Chief of Orthopedic Surgery at Healthway Hospitals, Dr Beat Hintermann (MD Orthopedics, Chairman of the Clinic for Orthopedics & Traumatology at Baselland, Switzerland and Associate Professor at the University of Basel), Dr Roxa Ruiz (foot and ankle surgeon at the Clinic for Orthopedics & Traumatology at Baselland, Switzerland), Dr Dhrumin Sangoi, foot and ankle surgeon at Nanavati Max Hospital, Mumbai, and Dr Sanjeev Juwarkar, Anesthetist at Healthway Hospitals, meticulously planned and executed each step of the procedure to ensure the best possible outcome for the patient.
“We’re extremely happy that the surgery was a success and everything went by smoothly. Surgeries like the one we performed in Goa, offer hope to patients suffering from such ailments which severely impair their quality of life,” said Dr Hintermann, expressing satisfaction with the successful outcome of the surgery and the smooth progress of the procedure.
The benefits of the surgery include pain-free walking, stair-climbing, and a return to a normal gait.
The surgical team was led by Dr Kudchadkar who is known for his expertise in complex orthopedic surgeries and has been at the forefront of providing advanced surgical options to patients.
“We are committed to providing the best possible care to our patients, and we are constantly striving to introduce new and innovative treatments,” said Dr Kudchadkar.
He added further, “Our goal is to improve the quality of life for our patients and to set new standards of excellence in orthopedic care.”
“I am also impressed by the infrastructure of Healthway Hospital, especially the state-of-the-art operation theatres and sophisticated instruments on par with developed countries and structured international protocols followed to the last step. This hospital is one of the best I have visited in the country, and I see a very bright future for Dr Kudchadkar and his orthopedic team,” said Dr Hintermann.
Dr Kudchadkar, who started knee and hip replacement surgeries in Goa in 2000, is known for his pioneering work in orthopedic surgery.
He was the first to introduce Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty (replacement of damaged parts of the shoulder with artificial parts) in Goa and is the region’s only fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeon.
The successful completion of Goa’s first total ankle replacement surgery opens new avenues for patients suffering from similar conditions in the region and highlights the expertise and dedication of the surgical team at Healthway Hospitals in providing advanced orthopedic care.