KATRA, Aug 31: At an age when even a minor injury can become life-changing, a 102-year-old woman from Dhanori village near Katra has successfully undergone hip fracture surgery at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, Kakryal-Katra.
The surgery, performed on August 14, 2026, also created a rare milestone for the hospital. The patient became the third person aged above 100 years to be successfully operated upon by Dr. Vikas Padha, Senior Consultant – Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement, at the hospital over the last eight years.
Dr. Padha had earlier successfully operated upon a 104-year-old woman from Kunjwani, Jammu, in March 2018, followed by a 119-year-old man from Darap, Satwari, Jammu, in February 2020. The latest patient was born on January 1, 1924, as per her documents.
Speaking about the latest case, Dr. Vikas Padha said, “The patient had sustained a hip fracture and, considering her advanced age, our priority was to make the procedure as safe and short as possible. We used a minimally invasive technique. The surgery started at 1:30 PM and the implant was placed within around 15 minutes. She remained stable throughout and had minimal blood loss.”
Regional anaesthesia was administered by Dr. Swati Tidyal, Consultant – Anaesthesia. The patient recovered well enough to be shifted directly to her room without requiring an ICU stay. With support from the Physiotherapy team, she was mobilised soon after surgery. Her sutures were removed on the 14th post-operative day and she continues to recover satisfactorily.
Dr. Padha said the successful treatment of three centenarian patients demonstrates the hospital’s capability to safely manage complex orthopaedic and joint replacement procedures even in very elderly and high-risk patients. He credited the outcome to the coordinated efforts of the Operation Theatre, Anaesthesia, Nursing and Physiotherapy teams.
Congratulating the team, Dr. Yashpal Sharma, Executive Director, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence, said, “Operating upon a patient above 100 years of age requires careful planning, clinical expertise and seamless teamwork. Achievements like these reflect the advanced infrastructure and specialised healthcare services being strengthened with the continued vision and support of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.”
As a comprehensive trauma-ready facility with 24×7 emergency services, advanced operation theatres, critical-care support and specialised rehabilitation services, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital continues to strengthen orthopaedic, trauma and joint replacement care for patients across Jammu & Kashmir and neighbouring regions.