Mirian Gom 
DAMATURU, Nigeria — Yobe State University Teaching Hospital has successfully performed a total hip replacement on a young man with sickle cell disease, marking a major development in specialised orthopaedic care in the state.
The operation was conducted on Saturday on a patient who developed avascular necrosis, a condition in which reduced blood supply causes bone tissue at the top of the thigh bone to die.
The procedure was led by Dr Lawan Yari, alongside Dr Musa Abdulmalik, Dr Bashok Palagvi, Mr. Manasseh Jonah and Mr. Karumi Ibrahim.
Yobe Commissioner for Health, Dr Muhammad Gana, announced the development during a briefing on Sunday.
Gana described the procedure as a landmark achievement, saying total hip replacement had previously not been available in the state.
He explained that the operation involves removing a damaged hip joint and replacing it with an artificial joint to restore movement and relieve pain.
The commissioner hailed the medical team for successfully performing what he described as a “rare surgery”.
Avascular necrosis can occur when blood supply to bone tissue is disrupted. In people living with sickle cell disease, reduced blood flow can contribute to damage to the hip joint and other bones.
Gana said the development demonstrated the growing capacity of state-owned health facilities to provide specialised medical services locally.
He also recalled another major surgical achievement in May, when Yobe State Specialist Hospital performed a complex maxillofacial operation on a 40-year-old woman with a rare, non-cancerous tumour affecting her lower jawbone.
The commissioner attributed both developments to Governor Mai Mala Buni’s support for the health sector, including investment in medical equipment and infrastructure.
He said the government would continue to support efforts to strengthen specialised healthcare services and reduce the need for patients to travel outside the state for advanced treatment.
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Oluwatobi Adu 