At 18, He Got a Hip Replacement—And It Changed Everything

When Lutfhil Hadi Azman was just 12 years old, he began experiencing pain in his left leg that would change his life forever. What started as intermittent discomfort during running eventually led to him becoming one of the youngest people in Singapore to receive a hip replacement at age 18.

Hadi's journey began in late 2019 when he first noticed the pain, especially when running or walking fast. Initially dismissed as muscle aches by a family doctor, the pain progressively worsened over the months, causing him to limp and sometimes bringing him to tears.

What Is Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis?

In January 2020, after a teacher noticed his suffering, Hadi was referred to National University Hospital (NUH) where he received a proper diagnosis: slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). This rare condition occurs when the ball at the top of the thigh bone slips out of position at the growth plate—a layer of cartilage where bone growth occurs in children and adolescents.

SCFE affects about 10 in every 100,000 children, with NUH seeing approximately five cases annually. The condition typically strikes children between ages 10 and 16 during growth spurts. "Once a person hits adulthood, the growth plate turns into bone and the slippage that causes SCFE cannot occur," explained Adjunct Associate Professor Andrew Lim, head of NUH's paediatric orthopaedic surgery division.

Why Did Traditional Treatments Fail?

At 13 years old, Hadi weighed 66kg and was 151cm tall, putting his body mass index (BMI) in the obese category—a known risk factor for SCFE. Other risk factors include metabolic disorders and conditions like Down syndrome.

Hadi's treatment journey involved multiple surgeries over several years:

• February 2020: Initial operation to insert screws across the growth plate to prevent further slippage
• August 2020: Second operation to reposition and replace screws after the initial severe slip affected blood supply, causing bone and cartilage collapse
• December 2022: Third operation to remove screws after repeated collapse, allowing doctors to monitor his condition

Despite the third surgery initially improving his pain, it quickly worsened again, forcing him to rely on crutches and a wheelchair. By December 2024, he was diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the hip—unusual for someone so young but a direct result of his deteriorating condition.

How Did Robot-Assisted Surgery Change Everything?

Facing the reality that waiting wasn't an option, Professor Lim collaborated with Adjunct Assistant Professor Barry Tan, who heads NUH's adult reconstruction and joint replacement surgery division. "At 18 years old, he cannot wait for another 40 years before he does it," Professor Lim noted about the urgent need for surgery.

In July 2025, Hadi underwent successful robot-assisted hip replacement surgery. The procedure not only replaced his damaged hip joint with prostheses but also safely lengthened his left leg, which had become 4cm shorter than his right leg due to his deteriorating condition.

The results were immediate and life-changing. Hadi was able to walk normally the day after surgery, making him among the youngest patients to undergo this procedure at NUH. Today, he works eight-hour shifts at a fast-food restaurant in Jurong West without experiencing any pain—something that would have been impossible before his surgery.

Now looking toward the future, Hadi has plans that seemed impossible just months ago. He recently went camping and hopes to go deep-sea fishing soon. "Maybe I will even get my motorbike licence," he said, reflecting the newfound freedom his successful surgery has provided.