Spain's King Juan Carlos to undergo hip surgery

Madrid, Sep 21 (IANS/EFE) Spain's King Juan Carlos will be operated for an infection detected in the artificial hip that was implanted in 2012, an aide to the monarch said.

The 75-year-old king will be operated "in the next few days" in Madrid, after doctors confirmed that the pains he has been suffering in his left hip and leg for several weeks are due to an infection in the prosthesis area, Rafael Spottorno said.

Juan Carlos will have his present artificial hip removed and another temporary prosthesis coated with antibiotics implanted in order to treat the infection.

Recovery from this surgery could take between eight weeks and six months, he said.

The king "has not suggested his abdication at any time", Spottorno said Friday.

He stressed Juan Carlos "is not disqualified" by either the ailment or the operation "from performing his duties".

The provisional prosthesis will be removed from the king in order to have the permanent one implanted, said surgeon Miguel Cabanela, who was called to examine the monarch.

Cabanela will operate on the king with the help of physicians who handled the previous procedure.

--IANS/EFE

pm/rd