Ludhiana, December 18
With the aim of propagating the arthroscopic techniques in the field of orthopaedics in the northern region, the Department of Orthopaedics at SPS Apollo Hospitals, in collaboration with the Indian Arthroscopy Society, organised the first Indian Arthroscopy Society Regional Basic Arthroscopy Workshop here today.
Inaugurating the workshop, Dr S.S Gill, Chief of Orthopaedics, PGI, Chandigarh, commented upon the facilities available at SPS Apollo while observing that these facilities being unique in this region, would go a long way in serving the cause of the common man. He said ‘‘while surgical skill and infrastructure for advance techniques like arthroscopy and joint replacement, were available in our country, it was the high cost of imported implants, which were standing in the way of a large number of people benefitting from the latest technology’’.
He emphasised the need for taking up indigenous manufacture of implants and urged the government to make available the required raw material and components at cheaper rates. Dr Gill also pleaded that insurance companies and the state government should also provide financial assistance for expensive joint replacement surgeries and other modern orthopaedic procedures for the economically weaker sections.
The workshop was attended by more than 50 delegates from the Northern region, including almost all senior orthopaedic surgeons from the city and surrounding areas. The delegates were given hands-on experience via bone models and were also shown live surgical demonstration through close circuit TV, which enabled them to get a feel of the real arthroscopy.
Dr J.L Bassi and Dr M.L Mam, heads of departments of orthopaedics at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital and Christian Medical College and Hospital, respectively, were the guests of honour at the workshop.
According to Dr Mandeep Dhillon, Head of Orthopaedics at SPS Apollo, the workshop provided a unique platform to the participating orthopaedic surgeons for interaction with such distinguished faculty and also enabled them to gain valuable experience in arthroscopy as it was a specialised branch of orthopaedics, highly dependent on specialised and expensive equipment. The operating doctor had to be specially trained in this surgical method.
He explained in detail about the state-of-the-art equipment for arthroscopy, available in the hospital, while claiming that the hospital doctors were performing all kinds of such surgeries, ranging from simple knee arthroscopy for sports injuries, arthritis, unexplained pain, to complicated problems of ligament injury, in routine.
Mr Jugdiep Singh, Director, SPS Apollo Hospitals, said in accordance with the philanthropic vision of Satguru Jagjit Singh, the chief of Naamdhari sect, the SPS Apollo had always endeavored to make the science and art of medicine, available to the benefit of common man. He further added that this conference was an attempt to spread the knowledge of arthroscopy among the medical fraternity which would eventually benefit the patient and society.
