SAS Nagar, July 14
Dr Vikram I. Shah, one of the fastest surgeons in the country, claims to have performed a complete knee transplant operation in 22 minutes. working in the Shalby Orthopedic Hospital and Research Centre, Ahmedabad, Dr Shah has performed more than 2600 primary and revision total knee replacements and 450 primary and revision total hip replacements in the past nine years.

Most of the osteo-arthritis patients in India who seek knee replacement are in an advanced stage of the disease, with a high degree of deformity but Dr Shah believes that treating such cases has its own research-related advantage. The effect of the treatment is dramatic and changes the complete lifestyle of the patient.

Dr Shah says there are patients, especially women, who were not able to stand straight could now walk after such operations.

“But even total knee replacement is not as good as being on your own knees. Even after such an operation, one cannot sit on the floor crosslegged,” he says by word of caution.

However, there are newer and better joints available now but these half-joints cost more. After the operation it is possible for the patient to sit crosslegged but not on the floor,” adds Dr Shah.

Dr Shah has also been involved in research based on his clinical experiences. “I have presented papers on stress fracture of tibia in osteo-arthritic knee which have been classified. The other major work has been on severe fixed flexion deformity of rheumatoid arthritis,” he says.

Dr Shah is training doctors working in his centre at Ahmedabad and also provides for two fellowships. “This is a skill-based treatment, and this skill needs to be spread, not retained in just a few hands. The skill is to complete such an operation as fast as possible as the chances of infection can greatly reduce the effectiveness of the treatment,” he says.

Chandigarh, July 14
“Millions of people worldwide are faced with the problem of hearing loss, but very few of them use hearing aids. Hearing loss is not just an age-related problem, but it affects people of all ages. Physiological age-induced hearing loss is, however, still the most common,” said the managing director of the Widex India Private Limited, Mr T.S Anand, in an interview with Chandigarh Tribune after the launch of a new hearing aid, Senso Diva, here today.

Giving details about the instrument, Mr Anand said, “Senso Diva is an advance digital and fully automatic miniature hearing aid. If enhances the frequency regions necessary for improved speech intelligibility, while suppressing the distracting background noise. The speech enhancement and noise suppression makes situation easier and less tiring, where communication takes place in noisy surroundings.”

If the hearing problem is not detected and treated in time, hearing loss in a child may have an adverse effect on the child’s ability to speak properly.

Chandigarh, July 14
Encouraged by the ever increasing popularity of Sector 34 ‘’Drop In’’, the Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation is developing its kiosk opposite Government College of Arts in Sector 10 into an impressive fast food joint. As per the available information, the authorities concerned, after carrying out a thorough survey of the existing site, have reportedly sanctioned a sum of Rs 8 lakh for the project.

The new fast food joint is expected to start operation ‘’very soon’’. “In fact, much sooner then you expect,” say highly placed sources in CITCO. The work on the project, according to sources, has already started. “The area for the setting up the fast food joint has been earmarked. This is not all. The bricks too have been downloaded and are being nicely and properly soaked for carrying out the construction”.

The officer adds: “At present, CITCO is running a small shop in the area — at one end of the Leisure Valley,” says the officer. “Through the shop, we are currently offering readymade food stuff, including chips and biscuits, along with patties and cold drinks. But there is no seating arrangement. Now, we have different plans for developing the area”.

Giving details, he asserts: “The barren ground around the area will soon be converted into a green patch for enabling the relaxing crowd to walk their way to the joint through chucking flowers and smiling shrubs”. As far as the structure is concerned, the joint will somewhat look like “Drop In” in Sector 34. ‘’As of now, we have decided to cover the entire area for enabling the visitors to relax on comfortable seats without worring about the weather,” claims the officer. “Rain or sunshine, you will be able to relax and enjoy invigorating cup of hot coffee or chill out with a cold drink.’’

Though the authorities are yet to take a decision regarding the food stuff to be offered, the officer claims that the joint, like “Drop In”, is expected to cater to the demands of the young crowd.

“Formal decision regarding the items to be sold is yet to be taken,” the officer maintains. “But I believe that the crowd will able to savour Cappachino coffee. This is not all. They will be able to enjoy delicious ice creams and bakery items, including cakes and muffins. Moreover, we are also planning to offer lunch on the lines of Drop In”.