The Orthopedics Department at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) has reached new milestones, conducting nearly 400 major orthopaedic surgeries each month. Over the past two years, the department has experienced a fivefold increase in orthopaedic procedures, with cases ranging from routine knee replacements to intricate spinal surgeries. As a result, NIMS has become a key referral centre for patients across three states, offering advanced treatment options and a high standard of care.
Each month, around 60 knee replacements, 20 hip replacements, and eight complex spinal surgeries for conditions like scoliosis are being completed. Spinal procedures, in particular, can require up to 10 hours of surgical time due to their complexity. In addition to these, the department also performs approximately 40 orthopaedic oncology surgeries per month, each demanding four to five hours to complete. The department’s workload is further augmented by specialised procedures in pediatric orthopedics, arthroscopy, and Ilizarov ring fixation, as well as complex trauma cases. For these intricate trauma cases, multidisciplinary collaboration is often needed, involving coordination with other departments like vascular and plastic surgery, noted Dr. Cherukuri Nagesh, the head of the Orthopedics Department at NIMS.
NIMS’s reputation for affordable treatment has attracted patients from far and wide. According to Dr. Nagesh, NIMS’s pricing structure is significantly lower than that of corporate hospitals, making it accessible to a broader demographic. For example, scoliosis surgeries, which would typically cost between ₹8 lakh and ₹10 lakh in private facilities, are performed at NIMS for around ₹1 lakh. Similarly, knee replacements that usually cost ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh are conducted at NIMS for under ₹1.5 lakh. This affordability has led to a surge in referrals from corporate hospitals for challenging polytrauma and neglected cases, with five to six emergency cases being transferred to NIMS each evening.
With an impressive success rate close to 100% and exceptional pre- and post-operative care, NIMS has gained popularity as a top choice for those seeking high-quality orthopaedic care at an affordable cost. Last year alone, NIMS performed 90 out of 100 scoliosis surgeries conducted in Hyderabad, as well as 90% of the hip arthroplasties done in the area, further demonstrating its role as a leading centre for orthopaedic care in the region.
Each year, nearly 5,000 surgeries are performed by the doctors at NIMS, many of which require complex, interdisciplinary approaches. Joint replacements account for approximately 800 of these cases annually, spinal surgeries number around 85, and orthopaedic oncology cases total about 400. Furthermore, around 300 arthroscopy procedures and 25 endoprosthesis surgeries are performed each year, while 100 patients are fitted with artificial limbs.
With a commitment to affordable, high-quality care and extensive surgical experience, NIMS Orthopaedics Department continues to set benchmarks in the field, making advanced orthopaedic treatments accessible to a diverse range of patients across multiple states.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Ankur Deka/MSM)