The Tonga joint replacement team completed two more joint replacements at Vaiola Hospital on Thursday, a knee and a hip. That brings the total to nine joint replacements in four days.
The first operation was a right total knee replacement for a woman in her early seventies. She had been troubled by pain mainly on the inner side of the knee, caused by significant arthritis in that part of the joint.
The second was a right hip replacement for a man in his mid to late sixties who used to be a very good rugby player. After a number of injuries his hip had become increasingly painful, and he had been getting around with a crutch. Dr John van Dalen said the operation was technically challenging, because the hip was unusually badly worn and also abnormal in shape. The implant went in well with a good press fit, and John was able to correct a significant difference in leg length at the same time. He is pleased with the outcome despite the challenges.
The last case of the day was a ten-year-old boy with a slipped upper femoral epiphysis in his left hip. This is a condition where the ball of the hip joint slips at the growth plate. He had been in pain and on crutches for a few weeks. The team put a screw across the growth plate to stop the slip getting worse. John expects the hip to heal enough within a month to six weeks for the boy to be free of pain.
Visitors from Rapid Relief Team
The team also welcomed Cameron Prestidge and Eddie Davis from New Zealand, who represent the Rapid Relief Team (RRT), a funder of the project. They met the surgical team, saw the operating theatres and the sterile services department at the hospital, and visited some of the patients who had surgery earlier in the week. They will be back on Friday to watch surgery and meet more patients.
RRT is also making a short video about the project, around ten to fifteen minutes long, which is expected to be shared on social media. A videographer has been recording through the week.
Trauma surgery continues
In the second theatre, Christchurch surgeon Dr Tom Sharp is working through trauma cases that need attention. John also spoke to one of the local reporters during the day and talked through some of the typical cases the team sees. So far the surgery has gone very well.
Help fund the next 25
Rotary Club of Whanganui North has set up a Givealittle page to fund 25 more joint replacements in 2027. Each replacement costs about NZ$8,000, around a quarter of the private price in New Zealand. The goal is NZ$200,000.