Last year, thousands received locomotor prostheses, mostly for knees
Last year, over 7,200 individuals received prostheses for their locomotor systems, which represents approximately 800 more interventions than in 2024. The surgeries focused on knee, hip, and shoulder prosthetics, with the majority being knee interventions—over 5,000 surgeries performed.
Leonid Vîntu, 67, from the capital, underwent hip prosthesis surgery a few weeks ago. He experienced severe hip pain for six years, which significantly hindered his daily activities. Leonid waited about six months for the surgery.
"With each passing year, it became harder, and I realized I needed to take action. Over the last six months, the pain intensified, so I went to the hospital. The surgery was very successful; after two days, I was able to move around with two crutches, if necessary. I consulted a physiotherapist, and I do the exercises he recommended at home," said Leonid Vîntu, the prosthesis recipient.
Iulia Bunu, from the village of Jora de Jos in the Orhei district, needed a knee prosthesis. Since 2014, she had been experiencing problems with her legs, and the treatments and injections she received over time did not provide the expected results.
"I was advised last winter to prepare for surgery. I received treatment, had injections, and a year ago, I was told to get ready for the operation. I got in line in April. Were you afraid of the surgery? To be honest, it felt like experiencing a loss, but afterward, I took control of my situation," said Iulia Bunu.
These surgeries are funded through mandatory health insurance. Last year, approximately 2,000 surgical interventions were performed at the Clinical Hospital of Traumatology and Orthopedics. The duration of an operation can last up to an hour, depending on the complexity of each case. A prosthesis has a lifespan of up to 25 years.
"Patients find themselves in these situations when they have joint issues, degraded joints, and intense chronic pain that does not respond to medication. After surgery, we monitor patients closely in the first 48 hours and help them mobilize using axillary crutches, but full recovery usually takes around three months," explained orthopedic traumatologist Sergiu Ciobanu.
For the year 2026, 7,462 prosthetic interventions for the locomotor system have been contracted, totaling over 507 million lei. This amount also includes over 22 million lei for consumables, which are charged separately from the cost of the treatment.
All insured individuals with medical indications for such procedures who are on the waiting list can benefit from prosthetic interventions free of charge. In the last two years, approximately 15,000 citizens were on the waiting list for knee or hip prostheses. The total need is estimated to exceed 21,000 prostheses, as some patients require two medical implants.
