Centenarian regains mobility after complex hip replacement surgery

The surgery was performed at SPARSH Hospital, Yelahanka, where a patient from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh was admitted last year with a displaced fracture of the neck of the left femur with complex subtrochanteric extension, an unstable injury that is particularly difficult to treat in older adults.

A 100-year-old woman regained her ability to walk after undergoing complex hip replacement surgery for a severe fracture suffered at the age of 99, underscoring the role of early surgical intervention and multidisciplinary geriatric care in the management of high-risk orthopedic cases in the elderly.

The surgery was performed at SPARSH Hospital, Yelahanka, where a patient from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh was admitted last year with a displaced fracture of the neck of the left femur with complex subtrochanteric extension, an unstable injury that is particularly difficult to treat in older adults. Her advanced age combined with a history of chronic bronchial asthma placed her in a high-risk category for surgery.

According to the hospital, the orthopedic team performed a long-stem, distally-fixing bipolar hemiarthroplasty, a procedure aimed at providing stable fixation by anchoring the implant deeper into the femur. Such an approach is often considered in patients with poor bone quality to facilitate early mobilization and reduce complications associated with prolonged bed rest.

The patient recovered without complications and was discharged three days after surgery. Since then, independent mobility has returned to her after 100 years. According to a hospital release, the hospital celebrated her milestone birthday on Tuesday, July 21.

Venugopal N., Senior Consultant, Orthopaedics, SPARSH Hospital, said that the treatment of a complex hip fracture in a 99-year-old patient with chronic bronchial asthma required careful surgical planning due to compromised bone quality and increased risks associated with prolonged immobilisation. He said the choice of a long-stem, distally fixed implant enabled early weight bearing and contributed to the patient’s recovery.

Thirunavukkarasu Sivaraman, Senior Consultant, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, said a customized anesthesia plan and specialized perioperative monitoring was adopted to manage risks related to the patient’s age and pre-existing medical conditions during surgery.

Published – 22 Jul 2026 0:51 AM IST