HEALTH

Live arthroscopy performed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH ,Sept 2 — Foot problems need special attention because of our feet being an important part of our locomotor system. Any deformity and injury can result in a life long disability, said Dr S.P.Aggarwal, Director General of the Health Services in his inaugural address at the XIV Annual Conference of Indian Foot Society, which started in the PGI,here today.

Dr Aggarwal said that with a vast population and higher accident rate, the number of orthopaedics cases in the country were increasing fast. There is therefore, a need to analyse and evaluate these problems and plan remedial methods.

Dr Aggarwal stressed that it was important that attention was extended beyond operation-theaters and on post-operative trauma. “Also important was adequate education on how to handle and prevent these injuries,” he added.

The highlight of the first day in the two-day conference was a live demonstration of Ankle Arthroscopy performed by Dr Nicholas Anton from Mumbai. The conference, attracting more than 400 delegates was termed as a success by its organisers.

Later speaking about the technique, Dr Anton said that without extensive open surgical exposures, we can not only decrease morbidy, but also helps in dynamic correlation. “Arthroscopy, facilitates early rehabilitation and expedites return to normal activities,” he added.

All the speakers, which included orthopaedic doctors of national and international repute, presented lectures based on analysed case studies and stressed that all the ankle and foot problems could be solved and corrected using proper techniques.

Dr P.K. Dave, while speaking about the problems and pitfalls of Triple Arthodesis, said that equally important was the fact that the ankle needs to be rested and rehabilitated properly, after any corrective surgery.

Dr A.P.J. Henry from the UK spoke about arthroscopy of the foot as well as correction of hallux valgus. Dr Henry is former President of the Foot and Ankle Association.

Arthroscopy is a boon for trauma patients, who sustain foot injuries mostly in the productive age group of 25 to 40 years. According to Dr M.S. Dhillon, Organising Secretary of the conference, the Orthopaedics Department of the PGI is starting this operative technique very soon. “Arthroscopy of the ankle and foot has given rise to a better understanding of a host of treatable problems, which were previously clubbed under vague names,” he said.

Dr Ravi Subramaniam, while speaking on the topic, said that foot and ankle problems have to be analysed and treated properly. Advantages of Arthroscopy include the cosmetic factor as there is very small scar after surgery; besides, it entails a negligible hospital stay. “Also the chances of infection are more or less eliminated,” he added.

Arthroscopy is a simple and safe operation by which the inside of the joint can be visualised through a small hole. An arthroscope put inside the hole presents a magnified image of the interior of the joint.

According to Dr Subramaniam, the interior of the foot has many soft structures which can get damaged in a injury. “In the absence of this technique, correct diagnosis and treatment of the damaged tissue would otherwise be very difficult,” he said.

Elaborating on the point, Dr Antao added that with this technique, it was possible to see a minute pathological scar tissue which erodes the bone, following an injury. “The scar subsequently softens its covering and exposes the under surface while causing tremendous pain to the patient. It is important in injury cases where even small bone pieces cannot be detected, even with the help of an X-Ray. With arthroscopy, it is possible to properly align the bone pieces,” he said.

Dr S. Pandey, speaking on the calcaneal osteotomies said that without affecting any joint movement or development of foot, most of the deformities can be corrected by very simple single stage operations. “At the most, a person requires hospitalisation for less than three weeks.”

Early treatment can prevent retinopathy 
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 2 — Lack of awareness at the primary health level was one of the main reasons for the rising number of visually-impaired people in India. This is why there are more chances of blindness in the newly born. These were some of the views expressed by Prof R.V. Azad, an eye specialist. Dr Azad, who is working primarily in the area of blindness among children, was speaking at a seminar organised by the Chandigarh Ophthalmological Society in the PGI, here today.

Prof Azad said that the incidence of blindness was more evident among premature children. Chances are that 40 per cent of the prematurely born kids could be suffering from retinopathy,” he added.

He further said that out of these at least 40 per cent cases could be resolved by laser technology. However, for this, it is important that both the doctor and the parents react before it is too late.

Prof Azad said premature children have to be administered oxygen, which is why their vision often gets impaired. “For this, it is important that children born before their due date should be examined by an eye specialist within six weeks and the doctor should continue the post-treatment care for at least a year.”

He said that the visually impaired child needs the help of a specialist. Moreover, parents having a previous history of such an impairment need to be more alert and cautious.

Prof Azad, while expressing concern about the increasing number of visually impaired children, said that it could have negative implications on the future of the country.

Others who expressed their views in the seminar included Prof Amod Gupta, Dr Mangat Rai and Dr Narang.

Medical camp for senior citizens
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Sept 2 — A medical check-up camp for bones and joints was organised for senior citizens at the Senior Citizens Care Centre in Sector 15, here today. Over 90 patients were attended to, by a team of doctors.

On the occasion, Dr K.L. Goyal and Brig M.L. Kataria conducted the check ups. This is the third camp organised by the association. X-rays and other tests were conducted free of cost and the patients were prescribed medicine for their ailments.

SPORT

Chandigarh bow out in badminton
By Our Sports Reporter

Results — quarter-finals: Boys— Andhra b Chandigarh 29-28, 29-10; Hyderabad b Rajasthan 29-11, 29-23; TN b Kerala 29-21, 29-28; Karnataka b Orissa 29-13, 29-18; Girls—Kerala b Chandigarh 29-22, 29-5; Andhra b Bihar 29-21, 29-5; Karnataka b Hyderabad 29-7, 29-15; MP b Punjab 29-19, 29-20.

Squash centre

A new two-court squash training centre was opened at St John’s School, Sector 26, by Col K.J. Vohra, President of the Chandigarh Squash Raquets Association. This new centre will help the school build new teams under the coaching of Amitoj Inder Singh, said Brother C D’ Abreu, Principal of the school. He was accompanied by his wife Beeya Vohra.

Volleyball tourney

The local IS Dev Samaj Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 21, will take on Guru Harkishan Public School, also of Chandigarh, in the tomorrow’s girls volleyball final of the CBSE volleyball meet at SD Public School, Sector 32. In boys section, PML SD Public School, Sector 32, will take on Shivalik Public School, Sector 41.

In kho-kho matches, Guru Harkishan Model school, will meet IS Dev Samaj Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 21, in the girls final, while SGHK School, Sector 38, will take on PML SD Public School, Sector 32, in the boys final.

Kho-kho federation

R. Sharan, a man synonymous with kho-kho and associated with the development of kho kho in the city during the past 27 years, has been chosen Senior Vice-President of the Kho-Kho Federation of India. Mr Sharan, who is also the secretary of the Chandigarh Kho-Kho Association, was a unanimous choice in the meeting of the federation held recently at Calcutta. Other key office-bearers were: Ashok Ghosh (West Bengal); General Secretary — Madhav Rao Patil (Maharashtra) and Treasurer — Kamlesh Chatterjee (West Bengal).

Yuvraj Singh among Indian probables
By Arvind Katyal

CHANDIGARH, Sept 2 — Yuvraj Singh, a city cricketer, could not have asked for more when, while playing a cricket match at Chennai, he was applauded by his team mates. The reason was that Yuvraj, an all-rounder, had been picked among the 23 probables in the Indian cricket team for the ICC Knock-out cricket tournament to be held at Nairobi (Kenya), next month, announcement of which had just same come in. “It turned out to be the beginning of a long-cherished dream of Yuvraj, his father Yograj Singh, former cricketer of repute, and for me, since I would always wish that he be groomed the right way, for his dreams to be fulfilled”, said his mother, Ms Shabnam.

Yuvraj’s coach at DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8 coaching centre, Mr Sukhwinder Singh Bawa, was quite thrilled when he phoned The Tribune office for confirmation of the news. Mr Bawa said that only three months back, Yuvraj had joined the National Cricket Academy at Bangalore and was otherwise on a scholarship contract with Indian Airlines.

It must be recalled that Yuvraj had steered the Indian win in the Under 19 World Cup last year, winning accolades for himself and the country. “The city was awaiting his next promotion, that is to the Indian team,” said Mr Bawa. Yuvraj, who was born on December 12, 1981 had recently completed his graduation from the local DAV College and was getting many lucrative job offers from various concerns such as IA, ONGC, MRF, revealed his mother. She said that Yuvraj would be moving to Hyderabad after the current Chennai tournament for the Moin-ud-Dowla tournament, the coming week. Yuvraj had also scored 358 runs last year in the Cooch-Behar tournament, which was a record.

Samuel Banerjee cricket
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 2 — Top cricketers of the region will be seen in action when the ICC XI take on Kelvinator XI in the final of the Samuel Banerjee Memorial Prize Money Cricket Tournament for the Samsung Cup to be played at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium tomorrow (Sunday) starting at 9.15 a.m.

ADMINISTRATION

Admn keen on getting power from HP
By Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 2 — After not getting clearance for its proposed gas-based power generation project, the Chandigarh Administration has written to the Himachal Pradesh Government, showing keenness to forge a partnership of some kind in any of the ongoing hydro-electric projects in the hill state.

In the letter to the Himachal Government, the Chandigarh Administration has asked for modalities if a lumpsum can be invested as a portion of the cost of the project and in lieu get a share of power supply. Whatever rate is approved for power purchase by the Ministry of Power, a power purchase agreement will be signed between the Administration and the Himachal Government, said a source.

This has come about after the Ministry of Petroleum indicated to the Power Ministry that the gas pipeline cannot be laid for Chandigarh, as it will cost several crores. In turn the Chandigarh Administration was asked to pay for the pipeline. This would have jacked up the price of project and the cost of each unit of power produced would have virtually gone through the roof, added a source.

The Chandigarh Administration had proposed to set up a 100 to 150 mega watt power generation plant in Kishengarh , just north of the Sukhna lake. Firstly the idea was to use Naptha as the base to produce power. But it was ruled out as the cost per unit was coming to be Rs 6.

Later, a gas pipeline was proposed and the Power Ministry was very keen on the project but the cost of the gas pipeline hindered the project. The death of Union Minister R. Kumaramangalam, a few days ago may have pushed the entire project on the backburner, admit officials.

Even before this had happened certain section of officials had been pointing out that a full-fledged power generation plant and gas pipeline would require setting up of elaborate offices for engineers designing the project, its execution and later the maintenance. The salaries and cost of other aspects also weighed in. All this was not feasible for such a small generation project.

It was economically prudent to invest in a project in Himachal Pradesh and ‘‘ wheel the power ’’ to Chandigarh through high-tension lines. This would mean the expertise of Himachal’s engineers would be used by paying up one time in lieu of power, say officials.

All this power will be required as part of the long-term planning of Chandigarh and the need will arise four years later but planning for the same has to be done now. At the moment, Chandigarh officials have not expressed explicitly their interest in particular project. This has been left for the Himachal Government to decide but Natpha Jakhri project is one of the possibilities. And so is the Parvati project near Kullu. All will depend on the cost of power and the money required to ‘‘wheel’’ it here.