In a landmark achievement for Indian medical science, the Department of Orthopaedics at ABVIMS & Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, has successfully performed India’s first-of-its-kind advanced knee preservation (knee salvage) surgery, according to available medical records.
The complex and innovative procedure was carried out by the Orthopaedics Unit–1 team, marking a significant step forward in joint preservation surgery, especially for young patients suffering from early degenerative knee conditions.
The Patient’s Challenge
The case involved a 30-year-old woman who had sustained a serious injury to her right knee a year earlier. She was diagnosed with a medial meniscus tear and underwent surgical repair at another medical centre. However, despite the initial surgery, the patient continued to experience persistent knee pain and discomfort.
When she later reported to ABVIMS & Dr. RML Hospital for further evaluation, doctors discovered early-stage osteoarthritis in the medial compartment of the knee, along with a varus deformity—a condition where the knee alignment shifts inward. Such findings pose a major challenge, particularly in younger patients.
Why Conventional Treatment Was Risky
Traditionally, meniscal injuries are treated through meniscal repair or meniscectomy (removal of the damaged meniscus). In this patient’s case, meniscectomy was the only remaining conventional option.
However, doctors warned that removing the meniscus would have accelerated joint degeneration, significantly increasing the risk of early knee replacement surgery, which is far from ideal for a patient in her early 30s.
The Breakthrough Surgical Approach
To avoid this outcome, the medical team adopted a novel knee-salvaging strategy, combining two advanced procedures:
- Arthroscopic meniscus transplantation using the patient’s own semitendinosus tendon (autograft)
- High tibial osteotomy, a corrective bone procedure that redistributes weight across the knee joint
This combined approach aims to restore natural knee biomechanics, reduce stress on the damaged compartment, and delay—or even eliminate—the need for knee replacement surgery.
The Surgical Team
The surgery was successfully performed on January 13, 2026, by: Dr. Pranay Gupta, Assistant Professor, Dr. Ravi Ranjan, Senior Resident and Dr. Mohit Raj, Postgraduate Resident. The team worked under the guidance of Dr. Rahul Khare, Professor and Head, Department of Orthopaedics.
A New Hope for Young Patients
This medical milestone represents a major advancement in sports injury management and joint preservation, particularly for young adults suffering from post-meniscectomy osteoarthritis.
The orthopaedics team expressed gratitude to Dr. Ashok Kumar, Director, and Dr. Vivek Dewan, Medical Superintendent of ABVIMS & Dr. RML Hospital, for their institutional support. They also thanked the patient for her cooperation and expressed optimism about her positive functional recovery.
