Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh organizes Support Group meeting of “Fast Track” Knee Replacement Programme

Patients share experiences of getting Back on Track with “Fast-Track”

New Delhi,May 13, 2017 :  Fortis Shalimar Bagh organized a support group meeting today to mark the first anniversary of the “Fast Track” Knee Replacement Programme. “Fast-Track” or “Enhanced Recovery Pathway” is a multi-disciplinary approach in total knee replacement surgery, where patients are mobilized as quickly as possible to reduce the chances of systemic complications and to obtain a faster and better recovery. The Support Group meeting was an interactive session where the operated patients shared their experiences of being treated under the “Fast-Track” approach with new patients suffering from knee arthritis.

”Fast-Track” addresses the much needed gap in the area of patient-friendly surgical technique and assures almost pain free post-operative period. The team led by Dr (Prof) Amite Pankaj Aggarwal, Unit Head, Joint Replacement, Orthopaedics, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh have operated nearly 200 knees during the last year with this approach where most of the patients were able to take their first steps within 2 to 3 hours of surgery. Patients as old as 82 years have benefitted from the “Fast-Track” “Enhanced Recovery Pathway”.

The key aspects of the approach under “Fast-Track” or “Enhanced Recovery Pathway” are: pre-operative counselling, pre and peri-operative pain management, soft-tissue friendly surgical technique, strategies to reduce blood loss with/without gyroscopic navigation, hi-flexion knee implants, zero-tolerance for post-operative pain management and aggressive physiotherapy.

Many senior citizens as well as patients in older age groups suffering from disabling knee arthritis conditions are reluctant to undergo total knee replacement surgery as they are afraid of prolonged immobilization and severe post-operative pain. The reason is that many patients suffer in the post-operative phase when conventional techniques are used. They have heard stories of terrible pain during the rehabilitation from their friends and relatives and are scared to undergo the procedure even while knowledge that they are in critical need of the surgery.

Dr (Prof) Amite Pankaj Aggarwal, Unit Head, Joint Replacement, Orthopaedics, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh said, “The “Fast Track” Knee Replacement Programme or “Enhanced Recovery Pathway” opens new doors in the area of knee replacements. It means that healthy patients with joint pain and debilitating knee problems can be fast-tracked to be operated under highly specialized and technically advanced procedures, improved patient management protocols, discharge in shorter time with negligible pain, reduced hospital expenditures and greater patient satisfaction.

Dr Mahipal Bhanot, Facility Director, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh said, “The Department of Orthopaedics at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh provides comprehensive and exceptional orthopaedic care to every patient who comes to us. Our “Fast Track” Knee Replacement Programme or enhanced recovery pathway is one of the few practices in the country to offer this technique. Any surgery at advance ages of patients is always challenging, given the numerous complications that may arise. Our highly experienced and trained surgeons utilize the most advanced techniques to perform minimally invasive total knee replacements for faster and almost pain free recovery.”