Thirty-year-old Karthikeyan from Udayarpalayam, Ariyalur district, had been bedridden for the past 17 years. But now, he has began taking baby steps, thanks to the efforts of doctors at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. They say that he will start walking without any help in another one month.

When Karthikeyan was 13, he had developed a fever and joint pain that restricted his movements. He could not afford any treatment and was wheelchair bound for 17 years when a doctor in Ariyalur suggested that he approach RGGGH. Doctors here diagnosed that the man was suffering the end-stage of arthritis where his joints fused. Doctors decided to replace all major joints in his lower limbs and make him walk independently.

Under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme, the right side of his hip and knee were replaced with stents. This surgery would have otherwise cost him `2.30 lakh. To straighten his knee that was bent at 90 degrees, a pin was inserted in the lower part of the leg and a weight was suspended from it for about two weeks.

“To perform the surgery on a side of the body, Karthikeyan’s father said he would sell his plot in his village. But we found help through our dean,” said Dr Singara Vadivelu, senior orthopaedic surgeon, RGGGH. Sunil from Ungalukkaga Trust came forward to provide `1.5 lakh following a meeting with Dr V Kanagasabai, dean, MMC and RGGGH. A surgery was performed on the left side hip and knee on January 9 and the patient was made to stand with a support on January 27. “This surgery would otherwise cost a total of Rs seven or eight lakh in a private hospital. Also, the patient bore all the pain as he had the confidence and was happy that he would soon walk again,” said Dr V Kanagasabai.

Doctors said that such form of arthritis usually affected men aged between 20 and 30 years, where the joints get fused restricting movement, but Karthikeyan suffered from it at an early age. “My father has become very old. I want to lead an independent life. Doctors have told me they would also perform surgeries on my wrist elbow. Even physiotherapy treatment is painful but I am confident I’ll become normal soon,” said Karthikeyan.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service – Chennai / February 01st, 2014