For 23-year-old Rupak Biswas from Murshidabad, West Bengal, life was a cheerful mix of work, friends and simple joys, until one day, he started experiencing a mild pain in his right hip, which he quickly dismissed as the result of a wrong sleeping posture and continued with his daily routine. Unfortunately, over the following days, his pain gradually worsened, and he found himself unable to leave his bed. Even basic movements felt impossible now. When his condition did not improve despite initial treatment, Rupak’s concerned parents went on to seek advanced medical care.
Determined to free Rupak from his pain, his family flew to Bangalore and rushed him to Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, where he was evaluated by Dr. Samarth Arya, Consultant – Orthopaedics, Joint Replacement and Robotic Surgeon. An MRI confirmed that he had septic arthritis of the hip, a severe joint infection that had completely destroyed the cartilage, resulting in the accumulation of pus inside the joint. By the time he presented, the condition had progressed to Grade 4 (Stage 4), with complete cartilage destruction leading to bone-on-bone arthritis.
Septic arthritis is an aggressive condition caused by the spread of infection through the bloodstream, and is not related to lifestyle or genetic factors. Cartilage, being an avascular (non-vascular) structure, lacks its own blood supply and therefore cannot fight infection once it reaches the joint. As a result, the infection rapidly erodes the cartilage, causing extensive damage. This condition is particularly common in young individuals, as infections can easily travel through the bloodstream into joints like the hip, and is often missed in early stages, making timely diagnosis crucial.
“To keep the infection under control and ensure long-term joint function, we opted for a two-phase surgical treatment plan involving the removal of the infected bone, cleaning of the infected hip joint and commencing a targeted intravenous antibiotic therapy, guided by infection markers and joint aspiration tests, lasting three months to eradicate the infection completely,” explained Dr. Samarth. “Inflammatory markers, routine blood investigations, and joint fluid aspiration were used to confirm and monitor the infection. After ensuring that the infection was completely eliminated with no risk of recurrence, the second stage of treatment was carried out.”
Rupak then underwent a robotic-assisted hip replacement surgery, which restored mobility and function to the joint. The surgery was successful, and he showed signs of recovery almost immediately.
Much to his family’s delight, he was mobilised the very next day after surgery and gradually began walking with support. He then progressed to moving independently with a walker. Today, Rupak has recovered well, has regained full mobility, and is walking independently.
Rupak’s story demonstrates the importance of early recognition of joint infections, especially in young individuals, and the need to never ignore persistent joint pain. Through advanced robotic surgical techniques, a comprehensive treatment approach, and specialized post-operative care, he is now well on his way to resuming a pain-free and active life.