Yobe hospital performs first hip replacement surgery

From Muhammad Maitela, Damaturu

The Yobe State University Teaching Hospital (YSUTH), Damaturu, has successfully performed its first total hip replacement surgery, marking a major milestone in the delivery of tertiary healthcare in the state.

The historic operation was conducted on a young sickle cell patient suffering from avascular necrosis of the femoral head—a painful condition where disrupted blood supply leads to the death of bone tissue in the hip joint.

Confirming the development, the Yobe State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Muhammad Lawan Gana, described the successful surgery as a landmark achievement, noting that total hip replacement was previously unavailable as a specialized orthopedic procedure within the state.

The surgical team was led by Dr. Lawan Musa Yari, supported by Dr. Musa Abdulmalik, Dr. Bashok Palagvi, Mr. Manasseh Jonah, and Mr. Karumi Ibrahim.

This clinical breakthrough comes months after the Damaturu Specialist Hospital performed a complex maxillofacial surgical procedure on a 40-year-old woman diagnosed with mandibular ameloblastoma, utilizing advanced reconstruction plates and an iliac crest bone graft.

Medical experts in the state attributed these surgical advancements to the continuous investment by Governor Mai Mala Buni’s administration in modernizing healthcare infrastructure, procuring specialized medical equipment, and training manpower.

Stakeholders noted that expanding access to advanced procedures locally will significantly reduce the need for residents to seek costly medical care outside Yobe State or travel abroad.