In a major milestone for advanced orthopaedic care, Sarvodaya Hospital, Sector 8, Faridabad, has successfully treated a highly complex case of bilateral Avascular Necrosis (AVN) of the hip in a 27-year-old patient weighing 165 kg — a combination that presented extraordinary surgical challenges.

Rohit Mundra, a young professional from Kolkata, had been battling severe AVN in both hips, a condition increasingly seen in younger Indians and known to severely restrict mobility and quality of life. 

His condition was compounded by class III obesity (BMI 49.2), the most severe category, associated with heightened risks of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, sleep disorders, osteoarthritis, certain cancers, reduced mobility, and significant psychosocial stress.

India’s growing obesity crisis forms the backdrop of such cases. More than 135 million Indians now live with obesity, and nearly 5% of urban youth fall into the Class III category.

 The surge in obesity has, in turn, sparked a rise in early joint degeneration. AVN alone has seen a 30% increase in incidence over the past decade, often linked to steroid use, alcohol consumption, trauma, and delayed diagnosis.

Despite the complexity, Mundra underwent his first hip replacement at Sarvodaya Hospital last year Encouraged by the outcome and the expertise of the orthopaedic team, he returned in 2025 for the second hip replacement — a procedure that, too, was completed successfully.

“Such cases demand exceptional experience and a specialised ecosystem,” said Dr. Pankaj Walecha, Director & Head – Robotic Knee & Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement at Sarvodaya Hospital. “A 165-kg young adult undergoing Total Hip Replacement is not common. It requires meticulous planning, advanced surgical skills, and a fully prepared multidisciplinary team. AVN is rising sharply among younger patients, and we now see such cases daily in our OPD, not only from across India but also from Bangladesh and Nepal.”

Dr. Walecha added that severe obesity significantly increases the technical complexity of hip replacement, often necessitating customised implants and advanced infrastructure to ensure the highest levels of safety.

With the patient now walking pain-free on both hips, the successful completion of the staged surgeries highlights Sarvodaya Hospital’s expanding capabilities in handling some of the most challenging orthopaedic cases — delivering precision, safety, and long-term mobility to patients who once believed they had no options left.