Bilateral knee surgery at Chamba Medical College
In a landmark achievement, a team of doctors of the Orthopaedics Department at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College, Chamba, successfully conducted the hospital’s first-ever bilateral total knee replacement (TKR) surgery.
This milestone was shared during a press conference on Tuesday by Dr Manik Sehgal, Head of the Orthopaedics Department. TKR is a surgical intervention where both knee joints are replaced with artificial implants to treat severe arthritis or joint damage in both knees. It is often recommended when pain and mobility issues significantly impair the quality of life and non-surgical treatments have not been effective. Dr Sehgal said the department had begun performing unilateral TKR surgeries three years ago, but this marked the first time a bilateral TKR had been undertaken at the institution.
The patient, a 57-year-old woman from Amritsar who recently returned from Canada, sought treatment at Chamba Medical College due to severe knee issues that left her unable to walk.
“Bilateral TKR is a complex procedure requiring careful consideration of the patient’s fitness, surgery duration, operating theatre environment, and ensuring minimal pain for the patient,” said Dr Sehgal.
The surgery was conducted on November 6. Dr Sehgal lead the surgery, while Dr Lucky Verma, Dr Gurjant Sandhu, Dr Anuj and Dr Ashish of the Orthopaedics Department and Dr Saloni Sood, Dr Manuj Kumar, Dr Rubinder Kaur and Dr Vivek Chaudhary from the Anaesthesia Department assisted.
Dr Sehgal said the surgery was successful, with the patient being able to start walking just 3 days after the operation. By the time she was discharged, the patient could make complete range of movements.
College principal Dr SS Dogra congratulated the team, emphasising the significance of this achievement for the institution and the region. “Performing such advanced surgery in Chamba, especially on a patient from outside the state, is a testament to the growing capabilities of the college,” he said.
