High flex knee replacement performed on American teacher

Chennai, July 26 (UNI) A high flex knee replacement was successfuly performed by a city-based hospital to a teacher from America after four failed surgeries for damage ligaments in the United States.

Dr A K Venkatachalam, renowned consultant and orthopaedic surgeon of the Venkateswara hospital, who performed the high flex knee surgery on 53-year-old John Reynolds last week told UNI.

Claiming that high flex knee replacement surgery was the first of its kind performed on an American citizen in the city, Dr Venkatachalam said Reynolds was desperate to have an affordable knee replacement in India, as he could apply for a job following his recovery.

Stating that Mr Reynolds was in pain for many years following multiple knee surgeries, the surgeon said he had damaged his knee ligaments while playing football adhering to American rules in 1990.

Despite four surgeries to reconstruct his torn ligaments, he went on to develop secondary osteoarthritis, a premature form of the disease, which affects middle-aged people, Dr Venkatachalam said.

He said after a thorough investigations and clinical analysis, he came to the conclusion that a total knee replacement was the only option due to non-functioning of ligaments.

A knee replacement, which cost about 30,000 Dollars in the US, was performed here for less than one third of the cost, Dr Venkatachalam said.

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