NEW DELHI: A worrying trend has emerged in terms of orthopedics across India post the pandemic, with doctors reporting a significant rise in cases of hip osteoarthritis and avascular necrosis, a painful condition caused by interruption of blood flow to the hip bone, especially among younger and middle-aged adults.
The post-Covid era has accelerated hip joint damage and increased demand for total hip replacement surgeries across the country, experts at the second DELHI HIP 360 conference, held at the Crowne Plaza New Delhi on Sunday, warned.
The Delhi Orthopedic Society organized the conference in collaboration with the Indian Joint Surgery Society.
The conference brought together leading orthopedic surgeons, arthroplastists, fellows, and residents from across India to deliberate on the latest advances in total hip arthroplasty, complex hip reconstruction, robotic-assisted surgery, rehabilitation, and management of post-Covid hip complications.
Experts at the conference said that hospitals are seeing a significant increase in the number of patients suffering from severe hip pain, lameness, stiffness, and difficulty walking due to AVN and early arthritis of the hip.
Several recent studies worldwide have indicated an association between high-dose or prolonged steroid use during COVID-19 treatment and osteonecrosis of the femoral head, especially among patients who already have vascular or metabolic risk factors.
Medical experts noted that AVN, once widely seen in the elderly or trauma patients, is now increasingly affecting individuals in their 30s and 40s.
In many cases, late diagnosis allows the disease to progress silently until the hip joint collapses, eventually requiring total hip replacement surgery to restore mobility and quality of life.
“We are seeing a 40 per cent rise in hip replacement surgeries in young people. Steroids have played a life-saving role during the Covid pandemic. However, indiscriminate or prolonged use in some patients has been associated with higher osteonecrosis and early degenerative changes in the hip joint,” said Dr L Tomar, Organizing Chairman, DELHI HIP 360 and Director, Department of Orthopedics and Joint Replacement, Max Hospital, Delhi.
“We are now seeing relatively younger patients with severe hip damage, collapse of the femoral head, and advanced arthritis that require early hip replacement surgeries,” he said.
Dr. Tomar also stated that early diagnosis is crucial because if AVN is detected in the initial stages, joint-preserving procedures may still be possible before complete destruction of the hip occurs.
Research published in international orthopedic journals has shown that steroid-induced AVN may develop within months after exposure, with the hip joint being the most commonly affected site.
One of the biggest challenges with AVN is that patients often ignore early symptoms like hip pain or stiffness, assuming it is muscle pain, said Dr Karun Jain, organizing secretary of the conference and senior orthopedic surgeon at Pushpanjali Medical Center in Delhi.
“By the time they seek medical advice, the hip joint may have already undergone irreversible collapse. Awareness, timely MRI evaluation and early intervention can help reduce disability,” Dr Jain said.
The conference included extensive scientific discussions on primary and complex revision hip arthroplasty, robot-assisted hip surgery and navigation, infection prevention, difficult hip reconstructions, dysplasia management, and improved recovery protocols.
Surgeons also discussed how advances in implant design, minimally invasive techniques, and precision-based techniques are improving surgical outcomes and reducing recovery time.
Dr Gaurav Govil, Associate Director, Orthopedics and Joint Replacement at Max Hospital Patparganj, said, “Today total hip replacement is among the most successful surgeries in modern orthopedics. With better implants, advanced surgical planning, and faster rehabilitation techniques, patients can return to normal life much earlier than before. However, the focus must remain on early diagnosis and evidence-based treatment to prevent avoidable disability.”
Experts at the conference stressed that India could witness a significant increase in demand for hip replacement surgeries over the next decade if early screening and preventive care for orthopedics is not strengthened. They stressed that continued academic collaboration, training of surgeons, and adoption of modern arthroplasty techniques are essential to improve long-term patient outcomes.
The conference concluded with a strong call for increased public awareness regarding persistent hip pain after recovery from Covid, responsible steroid use, and timely orthopedic consultation to prevent severe joint damage and maintain mobility in the younger population.
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