HEALTH

Total knee replacement to become a reality
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 29
A two-day international symposium on Mobile Bearing Total Knee Anthroplasty (TKA) or knee replacement, the first of its kind in north India, began at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital here today.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Rajeev K. Sharma, symposium director and Senior Orthopaedic Surgeon, Apollo Hospital said, “Arthritis is the fate of mankind. All of us are destined to have it at some point in our life. TKR represents a major advancement in the management of severe, crippling arthritis. More than three lakh patients undergo TKR each year in the US alone. In India also, although the technique is relatively new, more than 6,000 patients undergo this surgery, which is among the most successful procedures in orthopaedic surgery.”

The symposium will explore the technique, its design evolution and clinical experience, he said. More than a hundred surgeons from all over north India are attending the symposium, where a major highlight will be the presentation from Dr Jeans-Louis Briard from France, who has pioneered the computer-assisted TKA.

“Total Hip Replacement is already a well-accepted operation today but total knee replacement is still in the process of gaining acceptance as it is a more demanding surgical technique. However, with a deeper understanding of this technique, patients today can expect excellent and more reliable results. This implies pain-free mobility and a stable joint which is nearly normal,’’ pointed out Dr Briard.

The knee is a ‘hinge type’ joint, which is formed by the thighbone (femur) and shin bone (tibia) held together by flexible ligaments. The moving parts of a normal knee are covered with a layer of cartilage.

However, after a certain age, arthritis sets in and the cartilage is so badly worn out at knee joints that the person experiences discomfort in normal motor functions like alighting stairs, standing up, sitting down or simple walking.

The TRK has been accepted as one of the most successful orthopedic procedures and allows for vertical movement so that the leg can easily bend. But the mobility, which takes place in the knee is more complex and also includes some horizontal rotation.

“With the invention of mobile bearing artificial knee, more congruency and lesser wear has resulted in increased life span of the artificial joint. Recent reports have shown extended survivorship of up to 25 years, especially in the younger and active age group of patients,” added Dr Briard.

Dr Sharma added that the technique would be a boon for the Indians.

“A very common predisposing factor for setting in of early arthritis in our female population is bow-leg deformity, in which the bones slightly curve onwards at the joints. This causes disproportionate overload on the weight-bearing joints, causing wear at certain points.”

He also attributed obesity, coupled with a sedentary or passive lifestyle as a major factor that almost guaranteed the setting in of degenerative arthritis in the general population.

SPORTS

City Club hold Indian National
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, December 29
Reigning runners-up Indian National fought back to hold City Club 1-1 in the last Group B preliminary league match of the Delhi Soccer Association (DSA)-SAIL Annual Open Clubs Senior Division Football Championship at the Nehru Stadium East ground.

National and City Club completed their league engagements, securing 14 and 9 points respectively from six matches.

City Club forged ahead in the 29th minute through mid-fielder G Ninja Kabui, who gave the slip to rival custodian Jasmeet following a goal-mouth melee. Four minutes later, National drew parity when defender Harvinder Singh headed home, off a cross floated by inside-left Sanjeev Sharma in the 33rd minute (1-1).

Five top teams each of A and B groups have qualified for the Super League, starting on January 13 at the Ambedkar Stadium.

Group A comprises Hindustan, New Delhi Heroes, Tarun Sangha, Delhi Police and Mughals while Group B features Indian National, Indian Air Force (New Delhi), Moonlight, City Club and Goans.

Hindustan topped Group A by collecting 19 points, followed by New Delhi Heroes (14), Tarun Sangha (11), Delhi Police (10) and Mughals (10) from seven matches.

Indian National garnered 14 points, followed by IAF (11), Moonlight (10), City (9) and Goans (8) from six matches.

Digvijay Singh wins Grand Prix
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, December 29
Digvijay Singh played scintillating golf all week to card a 18-under-par, 262, to run away with the title at the Royal Challenge Grand Prix which concluded at the par-70 Madras Gymkhana Golf Course.

Digvijay’s effort earned him the winner’s cheque worth Rs 1.29 lakh while the current order of merit leader, Mukesh Kumar finished second to take home Rs 98,000. Digvijay Singh fumbled in the beginning of the round with bogeys on the second and fifth but brought it back with birdies on seventh, eight, tenth and 18th holes.

Thereafter, he played consistently without taking any unnecessary risks. He missed a lot of up and downs from the bunker. “However, I am happy with my performance as I have achieved what I set out to do,” said Digvijay Singh.

Starting the day with a bogey on the par-three second hole where his ball was plugged in the bunker, Digvijay dropped another stroke on the par-four fifth hole after hitting a flyer from the fairway, before gaining momentum.

He found his form with back-to-back birdies on the par-five seventh and the par-four eighth holes to make the turn at level par for the day. Digvijay then chipped in on the par-four tenth hole, getting to 17-under-par for the tournament and a final birdie from seven feet on the last, demonstrating his form this week, saw him card a two-under, 68 for the day.

Fifty professionals, led by current order of merit leader Mukesh Kumar, and leading professionals Digvijay Singh, Feroz Ali, Uttam Singh Mundy and Amritinder Singh, participated in the championship, the 17th event on the Indian Golf Tour.

The highlight of the day was a hole-in-one by Manohar Dike that earned him an extra ten thousand rupees. He aced the 177-yard, par-three second hole, using a six-iron.

Engineers India Ltd beat Essex
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, December 29
Engineers India Ltd (EIL) defeated Essex Farms by six wickets in an A-II Division match of the DDCA League at the Kotla No 2 ground.

Scores: Essex Farms: 219 all out in 38.3 overs (Avtar Singh 95, Sandeep Kalra 39, Munish Jolly 4 for 29, Anuj Sharma 3 for 35). EIL: 224 for f4 in 33.5 overs (P. Sharma 89, Anuj Sharma 70).

RCN beat Lala Ram Charan Club by six wickets in an A-II Division match at the Kotla No 1 ground. Scores: Lala Ram Charan Club: 256 for 6 in 40 overs (Parvinder Singh 121, Manoj Kumar 30, Sarwan Kumar 3 for 48). RCN: 260 for 4 in 37.2 overs (A. Chawla 90, S. Kumar 53, A. Kumar 37 n o).

Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd beat Citizen Club by nine wickets in a B Division match at the Yamuna Sports Complex ground. Scores: Citizen Club: 144 all out in 36.2 overs (B. Singh 35, R S Rawat 3 for 15). MTNL: 145 for 1 in 20.5 overs (V. Kumar 41, N C Bhatt 35 n o, R S Parwar 35 n o).

Friends Club beat Punjab National Bank by 71 runs in a B Division match at the Shanti Sports Complex ground. Scores: Friends Club: 219 for 7 in 40 overs (R. Birland 62, R. Kumar 43, N. Sharma 39, S. Yadav 4 for 27). PNB: 148 for 8 in 40 overs (Anil 43, B S Negi 4 for 23).

Madan Lal Academy win
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, December 29
A dashing knock of 65 by Dhruv Kohli, which earned him the Man of the Match award, and deadly bowling of 3 for 16 by Abhishek Rajgopal, helped Madan Lal Cricket Academy beat Frank Anthony Academy by four wickets in the third Major-General R G William Memorial Under-14 Cricket Tournament at the Frank Anthony School ground. The tournament was inaugurated by Delhi and District Cricket Association sports secretary Sunil Dev in the presence of Frank Anthony School principal S. DeCosta and organising secretary Sunil Sudan.

Scores: Frank Anthony Academy: 141 for 9 in 35 overs (Deepak Gosai 35, Abhishek Rajgopal 3 for 16, Sahil Chugh 3 for 20).

Madan Lal Cricket Academy: 145 for 6 in 21 overs (Dhruv Kohli 65, Abhishek Kapoor 35, Ankit Arora 3 for 11).

Gaurav, Inderjeet shine in Dustak tourney
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, December 29
A fine all-round performance by Delhi Under-19 player Gaurav Malhotra (52 and 4 for 22) and a devastating bowling spell of 5 for 26 by Delhi Under-22 player Inderjeet Singh helped Brighto Cricket Club beat National Cricket Club by 81 runs and entered the quarter-final of the third Dustak Memorial Cricket Tournament at the Chilla Sports Complex.

Scores: Brighto Club: 183 for 9 in 35 overs (Gaurav Malhotra 52, Kapil Salhotra 31, Manish Sharma 30, Ankit Sharma 3 for 25, Naveen Singh 3 for 37).

National Cricket Club: 102 all out in 25.3 overs (Vivek Sharma 31, Inderjeet Singh 5 for 26, Gaurav Malhotra 4 for 22).

Poonam and Vikash to lead Haryana
Our Sports Reporter

Rohtak, December 29
Poonam and Vikash of Rohtak will lead the Haryana women and men team for the 38th Senior National Kho-Kho Championship scheduled to be held at Chhotu Ram Stadium in Rohtak from January 1 to 5.

Haryana Olympic Organisation director and Haryana Kho-Kho Association organising secretary H.S. Bhadu, stated that nearly 900 players of 30 men and women teams are likely to participate in the five-day tournament. Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala will inaugurate and Bhiwani MP Ajay Chautala will give away the prizes. 

Hans Raj Model School win
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, December 29
Hans Raj Model School beat Salwan Public School (Evening) by ten wickets in a league match of the first Shanti Memorial Under-14 Cricket Tournament at the Najafgarh Sports Club ground. Tarun Lal, who claimed three wickets for the loss of 12 runs, was declared the Man of the Match.

Scores: Salwan Public School: 81 all out in 27.4 overs (Shantanu Kumar 22, Gaurav Kumar 3 for 10, Tarun Lal 3 for 12).

Hans Raj Model School: 82 for no loss in 16.4 overs (Mohit Sharma 36 n o, Anmol Sharma 36 n o).