Four Youngsters Undergo Surgery for Spinal Deformity : Chennai

Eighteen-year-old Sumitra from Ambur was not able to do her daily chores  as she suffered unbearable back pain and palpitation for years. At Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, she was one among four youngsters who underwent corrective surgery for scoliosis, a spinal deformity, recently.


Dr Nalli R Uvaraj with the kids who underwent corrective procedure for scoliosis, a spinal deformity, at the Government General Hospital

 Doctors at the Ortho Spine surgery unit at the hospital said surgeries were the only remedy for them as complications arising from it would compress the spine and affect the nerves and the lungs.

 While Sumitra (18) and two other teens Naveen Kumar (14) and Priyanka (16) underwent the corrective surgery where their spine was straightened with rods fused to it, 9-year-old Abitha was put through a special technique where the rods could be extended by adjusting the screws as she grows.

Sumitra Devi (right) was one of four recent patients at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital who underwent the surgery for correcting a curvature in the spine.


“Scoliosis affects more women than men. With surgeries, we can not only correct the ailment but also make the patient regain weight. It is always good to do such surgeries before the patient reaches 2o. We don’t do surgeries for everybody,” said Prof Nalli R Uvaraj, Ortho Spine Surgery Unit, RGGGH.

While the spine unit was started in 2007 at the hospital, doctors said theirs were the first government hospital to perform such a surgery in 2012. So far, they have performed corrective surgeries for 18 patients. Out of them, 12 had congenital scoliosis and six including the four youngsters were idiopathic which means the cause of the medical condition is unknown.

“Usually it happens due to paralysis or fractures at a young age and those that have birth deformity. But more number of cases are idiopathic,” doctors said.

The complex surgery that could otherwise cost `5 to 7 lakh in a private hospital was performed for free under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme for three of the four youngsters.

“I feel confident now and I want to join college and continue my studies,” Sumitra said, beaming with all hope. 


Source :  The New Indian Express , 14th June 2014