77-Year-Old Man With Diabetes Gets First Elbow Replacement at Medicover Hospitals

Navi Mumbai: A team led by Dr. Nikhil Bharambe, Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon at Medicover Hospital, successfully performed an elbow replacement on a 77-year-old diabetic man suffering from severe arthritis and restricted arm movement. The 3-hour-long procedure relieved the patient’s pain and improved his mobility, allowing him to carry out daily tasks like feeding himself.

The patient Ramchandra Talap, a resident of Kharghar, was having severe osteoarthritis in his right elbow, which had left him barely able to bend his arm from only 30 to 80 degrees of flexion. He had osteoarthritis for nearly 1 year and diabetes for 15 years. He was a known diabetic under treatment and had a history of two traumatic falls on the same elbow, one of which had caused a fracture of the right radial neck, initially treated with a plaster cast. Unfortunately, the fracture malunited. Repeated falls resulted triggered progressive deterioration of the joint, and he encountered pain while doing his daily chores. And the pain worsened, gradually making him dependent on family members.

Over time, a combination of multiple trauma incidents and uncontrolled blood sugar levels led to advanced arthritis, robbing him of the simple act of lifting food to his mouth. The pain and helplessness intensified, pushing him into a state of quiet despair. Frustrated and emotionally drained by his increasing dependence on others, he approached Medicover Hospital, clinging to the hope of regaining some quality of life.

Dr Nikhil Bharambe, Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon, said, “On arrival, the patient presented with pain and inability to feed himself, and high levels of frustration. We thoroughly investigated him. After a detailed clinical evaluation and thorough counseling, the medical team decided to move forward with a total elbow replacement, a complex and rare procedure. This surgery is not commonly done, with statistics of less than 5% in India. His surgery was scheduled on July 5.”

Dr Nikhil Bharambe added, “ The Surgery aims to remove the damaged joint and replace it with a metallic hinge joint lasting for 3 hours. The surgery is complicated because it involves cutting the lower end of the arm bone, which is delicate and can result in fracture intraoperatively, which may spoil the surgical plan forever. The patient's elbow mobility improved dramatically, reaching 10 to 120 degrees of motion, enabling him to resume essential daily functions like self-feeding.

This was a very special case, not only because it was our first total elbow replacement but because of the impact it had on the patient’s life. When he came to us, he was emotionally low and physically dependent, unable to even feed himself due to the stiffness in his elbow. The surgery aimed not just to relieve pain but to restore dignity. Now, with improved range of motion, he can eat, groom, write on the board, and move with greater ease. It’s a proud moment for our team and a reminder of how transformative joint replacement surgeries can be, especially in elderly patients.”

“I had reached a point where I couldn’t even lift a spoon to feed myself. Simple things like grooming or just moving my arm had become painful struggles. I felt frustrated, helpless, and at times, even panicked about what the future would look like. I didn’t want to burden my family, but I had no choice. When I met Dr. Bharambe, I was holding onto my last hope, and he didn’t let me down. Today, I can eat on my own again, move freely, and most importantly, I feel like myself again. I’m deeply grateful,” concluded the patient Ramchandra Talap.