After 27 Years of Disability, Man Walks Again with Rare Four-Joint Surgery at Max Smart Hospital Saket

New Delhi: Doctors at Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Saket have successfully restored mobility and independence to a 47-year-old IT professional from Delhi who had been virtually bedridden due to fused hips and severe knee deformities caused by osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, a chronic inflammatory arthritis that primarily affects the spine.

In this rare and complex case, all four major joints were replaced within a span of a few months.

The patient, Mr. Harish Baluja, had endured undiagnosed symptoms for nearly 27 years, often mistaking them for posture-related strain or gastric discomfort. Over time, his condition progressed until he could no longer walk or stand without unbearable pain.

By the time he reached Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital earlier this year, his hips had fused, his knees were locked in a bent position, and he had become confined to bed.

A multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Ramneek Mahajan, Chairman, Orthopaedics, Joint Replacement & Chief Robotic Joint Replacement, Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, devised a staged surgical plan to manage the complexity of his condition.

Within a few months, surgeons successfully replaced all four major joints. The procedures corrected his hip fusion and knee deformities, enabling him to stand upright and walk again, bringing a dramatic improvement in his quality of life after decades of disability.

Dr. Mahajan explained: “The patient had been confined to a squatting or fetal position for over three months, unable to stand upright. In such complicated cases, conventional surgery often falls short. We created a comprehensive plan beginning with bilateral total hip replacement, followed by bilateral robotic total knee replacement.

The hip surgeries, performed three months earlier, allowed him to sit upright and regain strength, after which we proceeded with knee replacement. Remarkably, he was able to stand upright within hours of the knee surgery, and now he can look forward to resuming his personal and professional life with new confidence.”

Post-surgery, the patient was discharged with a structured rehabilitation plan, including supervised physiotherapy, walker-assisted mobilisation for two weeks, and a gradual shift to a walking stick. With adherence to physiotherapy and rheumatology advice, doctors expect him to regain significant mobility within six weeks and resume work in just 15–20 days.

This case highlights Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Saket’s expertise in advanced orthopaedic care and its commitment to improving patient lives through innovation, precision, and compassionate treatment.