Day two of Tonga’s first joint replacement programme saw another two knee replacements successfully completed at Vaiola Hospital, alongside a full programme of trauma surgery and patient assessments.
The first knee replacement was a particularly complex case, but the operation went well and the surgical team was pleased with the result. The patient had severe arthritis and had been living with significant pain and stiffness.
A second knee replacement was completed later in the afternoon, bringing the number of joint replacements performed during the visit to five.
The team also had the opportunity to check on the patients operated on during the first day. Both the knee and hip replacement patients were recovering well, with the knee patient already sitting up and bending her new joint.
While the arthroplasty team was operating, a second team was carrying out trauma surgery in another theatre, led by Christchurch surgeon Dr Tom Sharp.
Throughout the day, Dr John van Dalen and the team also assessed a number of other patients with complex orthopaedic problems. One patient had been living with a serious leg condition since childhood. The team was able to discuss his case with a specialist colleague back in New Zealand and begin developing a possible surgical plan.
This ability to draw on support from specialists in New Zealand is an important part of the programme, particularly when dealing with unusual or complex cases.
The team plans to continue with another two joint replacements on Wednesday, with further trauma surgery also scheduled.
“It was another good full day of hard work,” John said.
If everything continues to go to plan, the team expects to perform two joint replacements each day through to Friday.