A 130kg man with osteoarthritis underwent successful bilateral knee replacement surgery at Ganga Ram Hospital in India. The procedure, in which both knees are replaced at the same time, is typically only performed on patients who are severely obese and suffering from severe arthritis that causes pain and stiffness in both knees.

The patient, Nidhish Gupta, had previously been turned away by other hospitals that requested he lose weight before undergoing the procedure. Dr. Anant Tiwari, head of the hospital’s joint replacement department, noted that such surgeries can be technically challenging and require modification of standard protocols. Special instruments and an operation table were used in this case, and a pump was utilized to prevent deep vein thrombosis.

The surgery was completed in two hours with minimal blood loss, and the patient was able to walk the following day. Despite the success of the surgery, Dr. Tiwari stated that many patients with arthritic pain struggle to lose weight and qualify for surgery, leading to continued suffering and worsening of their condition.