DNA : Free surgery for kids with deformities : Nov 16, 2007

DNA : Free surgery for kids with deformities : Nov 16,2007

Free surgery for kids with deformities
200 kids with minor deformity to be operated in two days
deepa suryanarayan

nalini pathak has not been able to teach her daughter arya to write or eat with a spoon. the reason: the four-year-old has a congenital deformity known as triphalangeal thumb. in layman’s terms, there is an extra bone in her right thumb, which makes it impossible for her to hold anything.

“doctors told us that the deformity would increase with age,” said nalini, resident of charkop. however, there’s good news for arya and children like her who are born with deformities in the limbs. arya will undergo a free surgery to get rid of the deformity at children’s orthopaedic corrective surgery camp at lilavati hospital on november 17 and 18.

“there are so many underprivileged children, who suffer from such deformities but have no access to the treatment and proper medical care although it is available in india today. through these camps we want to treat as many children as possible”, said dr johari who has been organising such camps since 2001. over 45 doctors and surgeons from across the country will work round the clock for 48-hours at a stretch to offer their expertise, he added.

over 500 children with deformities will be screened at the two-day camp being held under the aegis of the child foundation.

at least 200 minor surgeries are expected to be performed on children suffering from birth defects, spastic problems, unequal size of limbs, polio, paralysis and finger defects.
children with neurological disorders like cerebral palsy will be given botox injections to relieve spasticity of muscles and corrective plasters will be put to help shape the limbs.

Publication : DNA; Section : mumbai; Pg : 5; Date : 16/11/07