Lagoon Hospital begins knee replacement surgery

By Chioma Obinna
Respite has come the way of arthritis patients as a group of Nigerian orthopaedic surgeons based in the United Kingdom is currently in Lagos for the first Lagoon Hospital’s joint replacement surgery for which six patients have benefited.

Carrying out the first surgery at the Lagoon Hospital in collaboration with Johnson & Johnson’s in Lagos, yesterday, one of the UK-based Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons, Mr. Samuel Orakwe, who lamented that the country’s orthopaedic practice was at a cross road, said about 10 per cent of  Nigerians between the ages of 40 and 60 required joint replacement surgery.

Orakwe who led the team of surgeons comprising local and foreign said they were in Lagos to train specialists at the hospital on joint replacement surgery, stating that there had been a sharp rise in Nigerians needing the services.

“We are also here to let Nigerians know that this particular service can be done in Nigerians and by Nigerians themselves without complications,” he said.

Reacting to the feat, Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Olakunle Onakoya said it was a proof of the hospital’s commitment to total healthcare and assured Nigerians that the hospital would continue to bring better services to its patients as it was obtainable in the international world.

Onakoya who disclosed that no fewer than six Nigerians were going to benefit from the two-day surgery  session, explained that  four hip and two knee replacements would be done within the training period.