A team of spine surgeons at the Department of Orthopaedics in Government Rajaji Hospital here performed “complex” Scoliosis surgeries on two persons from the district.
With this progression in spine surgery, the GRH becomes the second hospital in the State to perform such surgeries. Earlier, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital was the only hospital where spinal deformities were treated.
Scoliosis is a condition in which there is an abnormal curvature in the normally straight spine. There are many types of Scoliosis, but the most common is idiopathic — where there is no specific, identifiable cause.
Scoliosis affects girls more than boys and, in severe cases, it can affect lung and heart capacity and lead to difficulty in walking, said R. Sivakumar, Professor, Department of Orthopaedics.
A fortnight ago, the hospital performed the surgeries on two teenaged girls under Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance scheme.
Bone screws were used to correct the curvature and, eventually, fused the vertebrae together permanently.
However, surgery will not perfectly straighten the spine. The goal is correct the curve to the extent that it does not affect spinal cord function, according to doctors.
Recently, the GRH has witnessed a rise in the number of patients with problems in the spine.
According to recent data, the hospital has received 865 patients with spine problems in 2013, while 475 cases have been received so far this year. Road traffic accidents accounted for over 50 per cent of all cases, Dr. Sivakumar added. The surgery costs upwards of Rs four lakh in private hospitals. The hospital has also forwarded a proposal to the State government seeking neuro monitors for performing more spinal deformity surgeries.
On Saturday, the Department of Orthopaedics organised a State-level workshop on spine surgery.
“The workshop was intended to enhance the skills of spine surgeons and post-graduates,” said V. Pugalenthi, Head, Department of Orthopaedics.
