A new technique has been invented by orthopaedics at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, for closed reduction of posterior hip dislocation, which requires least force and sustained traction, and can be carried out hassle-free, without awkwardly positioning the patient and the surgeon.
The new technique is named as the ‘PGI Technique of Reduction of Posterior Hip Dislocation’. It has been developed by Dr MS Dhillon and Dr S Sharma after evaluating the patients with hip dislocation over the years.
Hip joint is the largest joint in the body and in case of severe trauma or a fall, in awkward position, mostly results in dislocation of this joint. The condition is painful and requires immediate medical attention or else it might give rise to other complications.
Dr MS Dhillon of PGI said, “Once the hip joint is dislocated, it has to be reduced immediately to its original position, as the blood supply in that region gets disrupted and if immediate remedial action is not taken, it might result in a condition called avascular necrosis, which later requires surgical intervention to be cured.”
Avascular necrosis (AVN), also called osteonecrosis, is a condition that occurs when there is loss of blood to the bone. Because bone is living tissue that requires blood, an interruption to the blood supply causes bone to die. If not stopped, this process eventually causes the bone to collapse.
Earlier many techniques have been described for closed reduction of posterior hip dislocations, but most require forceful and sustained traction, assistants to stabilise the pelvis and awkward positioning of the surgeon and the patient. In most cases the reduction was carried out by putting the patient under anaesthesia which took lot of time and involvement of many surgeons.
Being a multi-speciality hospital with a well-run trauma care centre, PGI receives worst cases of polytrauma patients. There are days when the number of patients is far more than the required number of doctors meting out treatment, as the institute caters to patients from various regions. In such conditions orthopaedic surgeons needs the most simple and easy way to reduce posterior hip dislocation.
“The new technique has proved to be a reliable, safe and effective alternative for closed reduction of posterior hip dislocations. It can be carried out by one surgeon, and is especially beneficial in polytrauma patients and in patients who have pelvic fractures and ipsilateral lower limb injuries,” said Dr Dhillon
“The PGI technique of closed reduction doesn’t need traction-counter traction or special positioning and can be safely and effectively performed by one surgeon. It can be carried out by putting the patient under sedatives and is so simple to perform that, if someone is watching a surgeon doing the reduction would feel as if nothing was wrong with the patient,” he said.
The technique has been published in various international journals including the prestigious Hip International Journal. In around four simple steps the whole procedure of reduction, which earlier was a complicated process, is completed. The procedure was demonstrated at the Indian Orthopaedic Association’s annual meet, held in Agra last year where orthopaedic surgeons from across the country were marvelled by this technique.