Bhubaneswar : Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar successfully restoring mobility to a 35-year-old woman from Odisha who had been living with advanced ankylosing spondylitis and fused major joints. The patient, who had been bedridden for nearly a year and later wheelchair-bound, sought treatment in 2024 after a decade-long struggle with severe joint pain, progressive stiffness, and deformity. The case was brought to Manipal Hospital by her father, who learned about the expertise of Dr. Kishore Panda, Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon, Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, and decided to seek advanced intervention.
Ten years earlier, the young woman had been diagnosed with arthritis and had started medication, but her disease steadily worsened, leaving her unable to stand or walk. Although an earlier consultation elsewhere helped her get out of bed, her mobility remained severely compromised. When she arrived at Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, her condition was uniquely complex. She had severe stiffness in the hips and spine, an abnormal gait, compensatory deformity, and extremely poor bone quality. Her hip joint posed an extraordinary challenge measuring only 36–37 mm, significantly smaller than the smallest cemented cup available in India, which typically ranges from 42–43 mm. Even the smallest implant was oversized, requiring special procurement from the manufacturer.
The series of surgeries began with the right hip replacement in March 2024, during which a small intra-operative fracture had to be managed with plating due to fragile bone quality. This was followed by replacement of the other hip and subsequently both knees between June and July 2024. Chronic disease had weakened her muscles, ligaments, and balance, making every step of surgical planning, execution, and anaesthetic management highly demanding.
Speaking about the case, Dr. Kishore Panda said, “Her condition tested every aspect of modern orthopedic care. From bone quality to implant size to anesthetic risks, each stage required meticulous planning and extraordinary teamwork. Her courage and trust in us made this outcome possible.”
Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar provided continuous rehabilitation support, allowing her to regain strength and mobility over time. Her recovery underscores the value of consistent, multidisciplinary care.
