Lula: understand surgery for hip arthrosis – 07/23/2023 – Health

The surgery that President Lula (PT) must undergo in the coming months to treat hip arthrosis should have a major impact on his quality of life, according to physician João Antônio Matheus Guimarães, president of SBOT (Brazilian Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology).

“Hip arthrosis greatly limits the patient because it affects a joint used to walk, sit, climb stairs”, he explains. “The surgery allows you to move freely and without pain. Most patients regret not having done it sooner.”

Lula has been complaining of pain and, last month, said he takes daily injections and undergoes physiotherapy sessions to treat the problem. “The president has osteoarthritis in his right leg and the definitive treatment is surgery”, says cardiologist Roberto Kalil Filho, who monitors the health of the president.

According to Kalil, a date for the surgery has not yet been set. The Presidency’s press office indicates that it could take place in October or December.

Hip arthrosis or osteoarthritis occurs when there is wear and tear on the cartilages that line the head of the femur and the acetabulum (part of the pelvis that connects to the femur).

Formed by the connection between the femur (thigh bone) and the acetabulum, this joint suffers from the wear and tear of the cartilages that cover these two bone structures, causing pain and often severely limiting the lives of patients.

This wear and tear is usually related to age or exertion – it affects tennis players, for example – and causes pain. In the beginning, the discomfort can be minimized with medication and physiotherapy, but the definitive treatment is surgery.

In the operation, the damaged joint is replaced by a metal prosthesis that adheres to the bone and is covered with special ceramic or polyethylene structures. “A component of the prosthesis is placed in the pelvis and another in the head of the femur”, says the orthopedist.

Guimarães explains that it is not usually necessary to use general anesthesia and the cut is usually made on the side of the thigh, at hip height.

Through the three- to four-inch opening, the doctor removes the damaged parts of the bones, places and adjusts the prostheses. “The secret is the proper placement of the implants so that the effect is prolonged, not just the quality of the prosthesis.”

Hours after the procedure, the patient is recommended to get out of bed to avoid risks such as embolism, and physiotherapy begins in the same week. The patient must limit the effort for about 20 days and after three months he is considered fit to fully resume his routine.

The specialist claims that the surgery generates benefits for about 20 years. After this period, younger patients are usually subjected to a review due to the wear of the materials used.