JAKARTA - Malaysia continues to strengthen its position as one of the preferred medical tourism destinations for Indonesian patients, especially in handling complex cases in the elderly. Supported by modern medical technology, experienced specialist doctors, and relatively close access from Indonesia, many patients now choose Malaysia to get more integrated and comfortable treatment.
One of them is the story of a 102-year-old woman who successfully underwent hip surgery at Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City, Kuala Lumpur, where she managed to walk again in just 48 hours after surgery.
The patient, who is familiarly called "Popo", is known as an active middle-aged woman, and also has a strong mentality, especially since Popo usually carries out daily activities independently, even helping run the family business.
Popo was suddenly rushed to the Emergency Department at Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City, Kuala Lumpur because he had fallen so that he suffered a neck of femur fracture, a serious injury to the hip that is common in the elderly due to bone fragility. At an advanced age, injuries like this often become the beginning of a drastic decline in physical condition.
The case was immediately handled through the Fracture Liaison Service (FLS), a multidisciplinary care system for elderly fracture patients owned by Sunway Medical Centre. This service helps speed up the process of coordinated medical evaluation and treatment.
The treatment is led by orthopedic specialist Dr. Jeffrey Jaya Raj, along with a team of geriatricians, anesthesiologists, and medical rehabilitation. According to the team of doctors, a quick operation is an important step so that patients can move again and avoid serious complications due to too long lying down.
"Early intervention is the key. If surgery is delayed, the patient may not be able to walk again, and it can trigger various other complications," explained Dr. Jeffrey, in his statement, Monday, May 25.
Within less than 24 hours of being treated, Popo underwent a bipolar hemiarthroplasty procedure, which is a partial hip joint replacement surgery designed to minimize operating time and reduce physical stress on the body of an elderly patient.
The operation was performed using regional and spinal anesthesia without total anesthesia to reduce the risk of complications, and was successfully completed in about an hour.
The results were very fast. The next day, Popo was able to stand up and start walking with the help of the rehabilitation team.
At the age of 102, Popo was recorded as the oldest patient to undergo surgery at Sunway Medical Centre and is believed to be one of the oldest hip surgery patients in Southeast Asia.
The team of doctors from Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City, Kuala Lumpur, emphasized that the success of this recovery not only depends on the surgical procedure, but also on the support of a very strong family. During the recovery period, Popo was accompanied by his children, grandchildren, and grandchildren who continued to give him courage.
"If I can still walk, I want to do it," Popo told his family.
According to Dr. Jeffrey, the success of this case is the result of the cooperation of all medical teams, ranging from emergency services, anesthesia, surgery, to rehabilitation.
"Every step is very important," he concluded.
This story is a reminder that age is not always a limit to getting a better quality of life. With proper medical treatment, modern technology, and strong family support, the hope of returning to active and independent life remains open, even at an advanced age.
Through an integrated care approach, Sunway Medical Centre Kuala Lumpur continues to be committed to providing international-standard healthcare services for patients from various countries, including Indonesia.
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