57 Year Old Journalist from Mysore manages to Smile after a Decade
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
A Team of doctors at Wockhardt Hospitals put the smile back on the face of Mr. B M Ramesh. Dr. Deshpande V Rajakumar, Consultant Neurosurgeon, Wockhardt Hospitals performed a minimally invasive Microvascular Decompression (MVD) surgery to relieve Mr. Ramesh of his facial pain.
Mr. B M Ramesh, a 57 year old gentleman and a former journalist who hails from Mysore, was compelled to take early retirement from his job as he was suffering from excruciating pain on the right side of his face. He was suffering from this unbearable facial pain for the past 10 years and was under medication for a long period. But nothing really brought him relief and in due course of time he became refractory to even maximum dose of medication.
Since then he continued to live with his pain, managing himself by avoiding the precipitating factors, restricting his social life to within home and the medication. He was barely able to speak, chew food as jaw opening and sensory stimulus to upper jaw triggered the pain on the right side. At times he even used to keep a piece of wood in between his teeth to avoid biting his own tongue due to sheer pain.
Since then he continued to live with his pain, managing himself by avoiding the precipitating factors, restricting his social life to within home and the medication. He was barely able to speak, chew food as jaw opening and sensory stimulus to upper jaw triggered the pain on the right side. At times he even used to keep a piece of wood in between his teeth to avoid biting his own tongue due to sheer pain.
Having suffered for so long Mr. Ramesh finally visited Wockhardt Hospitals where he was diagnosed with a neuro disorder called - Trigeminal Neuralgia, a disorder of one or both of the facial trigeminal nerves (the fifth cranial nerve, also called the fifth nerve or simply V which is responsible for sensation in the face)
“Trigeminal neuralgia" is an uncommon disease with an incidence 4.7 per 100,000 (prevalence of 155 per million) and occurs more frequently in the middle or later age groups, more in females than in males. It is more common on the right side of the face rather than the left side. It generally affects the lower jaw zone (mandibular) more than the upper jaw (maxillary).Microvascular Decompression (MVD) surgery is done through an approach behind the ear.
Around 70-80% of patients respond well to medical therapy and can either be pain free or tolerably relieved of pain. However around 30% of the patients become refractory to it after 2years and some develop drug intolerance due to adverse effects. About half of all patients eventually require surgery for pain relief. Microvascular Decompression is the only surgical option that allows for obtaining long-term pain relief while avoiding any sensory disturbance.
The pain is usually precipitated by a sensory stimulus or a ‘trigger’ such as
• light touch on that side of face, a breeze of wind or a splash of water on the face • acts of swallowing food or liquids • mastication(chewing/biting) • talking
The pain is usually precipitated by a sensory stimulus or a ‘trigger’ such as
• light touch on that side of face, a breeze of wind or a splash of water on the face • acts of swallowing food or liquids • mastication(chewing/biting) • talking
Trigeminal Neuralgia is one of the worst known facial pains. The pain is paroxysmal or episodic in occurrence; each episode consists of a cluster of lancinating or ‘electric shock’ like pains, severe to excruciating in intensity lasting from a few seconds to a few minutes and keeps recurring.
For an appointment with Dr RajKumar or to contact our Brain and Spine Doctors, please email enquiries@wockhardthospitals.net
Doctor Spotlight: Dr Prathima Reddy,Gyanecologist at Cunningham Road,Bangalore
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Dr Prathima Reddy
MRCOG,FRCOG (London)
Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
Wockhardt Hopitals, Cunningham Road, Bangalore
Areas of Interest:
Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
Wockhardt Hopitals, Cunningham Road, Bangalore
Areas of Interest:
- Vaginal Surgeries including complex hysterectomies.
- Removal of large fibroid uterii through the vagina, Anterior and Posterior repairs.
- Surgeries for urinary incontinence
- Laparoscopic and Hysteroscopic surgeries
- Colposcopy and Colposcopic directed treatment for the abnormalities of the Cervix
- High Risk Obstetrics
Dr Prathima Reddy is a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London, She was trained in the United Kingdom and obtained her MRCOG and FRCOG from there. She then worked in the UK for 9 years before coming back to India.
In Bangalore she was one of the first consultants to introduce evidence based, protocol led management of patients. This contributed enormously to changes in practice and reduction in Caesarean Section rates in all the hospitals that she worked at.
Dr Reddy has special training and experience in complicated vaginal surgeries, laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgeries including colposcop
She is an active member of the ObGyn Society and is a very popular speaker. She has been invited several times over to deliver lectures and participate in their workshops.She also has several publications to her credit.
She is an active member of the ObGyn Society and is a very popular speaker. She has been invited several times over to deliver lectures and participate in their workshops.She also has several publications to her credit.
Consultation Timings : Tuesday to Saturday: 10am-12.00 Noon. Click here for requesting an appointment Or please write to enquiries@wockhardthospitals.net
US Healthcare Outsourcing to India Doubles as Americans continue their Healthcare Debate
Saritha Rai of globalpost points out in a recent post that US healthcare outsourcing to Indian continues unabated as US continues to debate and discuss their healthcare reforms.
Several American patients have been severely hit by the recession,with more and more employers cutting down their employees healthcare cost. American Patients are increasingly looking forward to coming down in some of the Indian medical tourism Hubs like Bangalore and Mumbai for getting treated.
She gives an example of " Seaver-Davis", a family mediator and teacher, who traveled halfway across the world from Greensboro to Bangalore, where Wockhardt’s Hospitals surgeons removed the loose implants from a previous surgery in his knee and replaced them with fresh implants.
The surgery cost $11,000, a bargain-basement price that was a quarter of what hospitals in North Carolina were quoting. “If more people knew about the quality of medical care here, American hospitals would go out of business,” said Seaver-Davis.
The surgery cost $11,000, a bargain-basement price that was a quarter of what hospitals in North Carolina were quoting. “If more people knew about the quality of medical care here, American hospitals would go out of business,” said Seaver-Davis.
Lying in a hospital bed in Wockhardt Hospital recuperating from a knee replacement surgery on his right knee, Les Seaver-Davis counts off on his fingers the number of times he has been in and out of hospitals back home in Greensboro, North Carolina.
You can read the full story here" Slumdog Doctors No More
About Sarita Rai
Saritha Rai covers India for GlobalPost. Rai has spent her journalistic career tracking diverse subjects such as globalization, the technology industry and social change. For six years, she was the India-based business reporter for the New York Times, writing about the economy, outsourcing, liberalization and change.
Spinal Cord Tumor: Symptoms and Treatements
Friday, July 24, 2009
In general tumour is an abnormal mass of tissue due to abnormal division and growth of cells. Tumour does not connote cancer. Spinal cord is the continuation of the brainstem downwards from the junction of the head and neck down to the lower back.
Spinal cord can be compressed by lesions/tumours that arise from the covering layers (dura/arachnoid) or by tumours within spinal cord per se.
Based on the location spinal cord tumors are generally called
- Extradural (outside the dura)-they constitute about 80% of tumours
- Intradural Extramedullary (inside the dura but outside the cord)-this group amounts to about 15%
- Intramedullary (from within the spinal cord) accounts for the remaining 5%
The occurrence of spinal cord tumors is generally rare and it can leave a patient with neurological damage resulting in physical disabilities due to the pressure exerted by the tumour on the spinal cord. Early diagnosis and effective treatment is the key to the successful treatment and recovery without physical disability.
The Symptoms of Spinal cord Tumour depends on the type of tumor and its location. In almost all kinds of tumor ,pain is a common early feature that often precedes the onset of any neurological disturbance. Some of the common symptoms include: Pain in the back of neck and radiating to upper limbs or pain radiating around chest wall.
- Forward or backward neck movement causing ‘electric shock’ or tingling radiating down through the body to the extremities.
- Loss or disturbance of sensation to touch/pain/heat in the upper/lower extremities or trunk.
- Lower back pain ,shooting pain that runs down the legs
- Distinct muscular weakness causing falls/limp due to weakness in legs or difficulty in writing/doing work that involves fine movements of hand/fingers.
- In the advanced stage the bladder and the bowel functions will be affected.
The exact cause of Spinal cord Tumour is still a subject of discussion. Many researches have attributed the cause to genetic factors.In developmental/congenital disorders it is observed that tumours generally develop from the arachnoid layer of the spinal cord or the supporting glial (non-neuronal cells that provide support and nutrition) cells.
Diagnosis of Spinal Cord Tumor
The Diagnosis consists of an evaluation of the symptoms followed by a through neurological examination and then imaging by MRI/CT of the affected part based on clinical localization. However whole spine screening image has to be done if multiple lesions noted or skip lesions suspected.
Treatments in Spinal Cord Tumor
The Treatment of spinal cord tumors is far more effective when the tumor is diagnosed early. The treatment varies on the type of tumor, the location and the extent of involvement but most require surgical Excision. All spinal cord surgeries need to be done with intra operative spinal cord monitoring.
Spinal tumors that are not intramedullary can be removed completely with excellent recovery.
Intramedullary tumors may require radiation/chemotherapy after surgical excision depending on the grade of the tumor.
Getting treated early is the keyIntramedullary tumors may require radiation/chemotherapy after surgical excision depending on the grade of the tumor.
Early diagnosis and surgical intervention prevents irreversible spinal cord damage due to chronic pressure and hastens neurological recovery, minimizes physical disability. Newer techniques are in the offing including stereotactic radiations but these are still in its infancy.
Dr. Deshpande.V. Rajakumar, M.CH,
Consultant Neurosurgeon,
Wockhardt Hospitals,Bangalore
For Appointments and Consultations with our Brain and Spine Doctors ,please email
Introducing the Sunet Clinic at Bangalore: Outpatient Timings now extended to 8pm
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Most of us today avoid a visit to a doctor or a hospital specially if it interrupts with our working hours. We felt that there was a genuine need to adjust our timings so that we can accommodate our visitors who could not visit us due to their work timings
We have decided to extend our timings to introduce "Sunet Clinic" which will be open from 5pm-7pm. You can call 6636666 for appointments or email us at enquiries@wockhardthospitals.net
We have decided to extend our timings to introduce "Sunet Clinic" which will be open from 5pm-7pm. You can call 6636666 for appointments or email us at enquiries@wockhardthospitals.net
Minimally Invasive Surgical Treatement for Compression Fractures
Vertebroplasty is minimally-invasive, outpatient procedure used to treat the pain associated with vertebral compression fractures caused by osteoporosis and tumoral lesions
It is an image-guided, minimally invasive surgical also used for treatment for pathological spinal fractures which is successful at alleviating the pain caused by compression fracture. It is accomplished by injecting orthopaedic cement through a needle into the fracture vertebra.
Indications
In elderly patients with vertebral fracture, secondary to Senile Osteoporosis, of vertebra, Haemangiomas of spine.
Patient Evaluation
First, the patient is evaluated clinically and basic blood investigations are carried out.X-ray of spine, and if needed, of other parts too, are also taken.MRI is optional, in the presence of neurological deficits, suspected malignancy .Medical evaluation, for medical disease is performed.
Vertebroplasty Procedure
Done under general anesthesia in the operation theater. A hallow needle is passed percutaneously through pedicles into the body of vertebra, which is fractured under image guidance. It is followed by injection of dye,to confirm if the needle has reached a safe spot in the affected spine.An orthopedic cement paste is injected through needle into the body of vertebra, under image guidance. Once adequate cement is injected, needle is removed.
Total time: 30min
Advantages of Vertebroplasty
- This technique provides immediate strength to the porous bone, rapid relief from pain and reduces the likelihood of fractures again.
- Immediate pain relief.
- Early mobilisation, so early return to normality.
- No brace/no bed rest.
- Minimal invasive procedure.
Risks
A small amount of cement can leak out of the vertebral body.Other possible complications include: infection, bleeding, rarely neurological symptom is noticed
Limitations of Vertebroplasty
- Not used for Herniated disc or arthritic back pain.Not a prophylactic treatment to prevent fracture.
- Not for correction of spinal deformities.
- Not for medically unfit patient and in healed fractures.
Vertebroplasty has been carried out in several cases at Wockhardt Hospitals, where there has been great success, in the ease of the procedure and in the outcome.
For consultation with our Bone and Joint doctors,please email enquiries@wockhardthospitals.net
For consultation with our Bone and Joint doctors,please email enquiries@wockhardthospitals.net
Thinking of Getting a Knee Replacement: Take a walk in the sun
According to scientists in Australia, walking in the sunshine could be a great way to delay your knee replacement.The findings claim that Vitamin D deficient people loose cartilage faster than those who are not vitamin D deficient .Sunlight is one of the best sources of vitamin D but the researchers warn there in Australia there seems to be a national trend of people avoiding the sun.
Tasmania, half the population is vitamin D deficient, and even people living in brighter parts of Australia, such as Queensland, are at risk of developing osteoarthritis in their knees.The head of the Musculoskeletal Unit at the Menzies Research Institute in Hobart, Professor Graeme Jones, has discovered that vitamin D keeps knee cartilage healthy.
"In summer you need five minutes of unprotected sun on your arms and face. Winter at this time of year you need about an hour a day in the middle of the day,"
Cartilage has vitamin D receptors, and while there is not much knowledge on exactly onwhat this vitamin D does in cartilage, but the results suggest that vitamin D helps cartilage metabolism, so it suggests cartilage is under hormonal control.that patients with healthy vitamin D levels maintained their cartilage for longer than those with a deficiency.
Read the entire findings at here
Sunshine and exercise could just be a very cheap prevention to an expensive health problem.
Professor Jones says more than two million Australians have osteoarthritis and treating them costs $9 billion a year.
The men and women he has studied are aged between 50 and 80 years old.
Professor Jones says more than two million Australians have osteoarthritis and treating them costs $9 billion a year.
The men and women he has studied are aged between 50 and 80 years old.
Read the entire findings at here
Brain Tumor Removed through Nasal Cavity:Expanded Endoscopic Transnasal Surgery
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
In a unique path-breaking surgery the neurosurgery team at Wockhardt Hospitals, Bangalore, performed a pioneering technique by which a brain tumor was removed using a 4mm endoscope that was guided through the patient’s nasal cavity. The surgery which demands exceptional skill and specialized equipment, was conducted on a 40 year old woman who was diagnosed with a brain tumor measuring 2 cm.
Endoscopes have been previously used for brain surgeries related to cavities within the brain and to remove tumors from the pituitary gland through the nose. But this is the first reported case in the country where an endoscope was used to remove a brain tumor from the sellaturcia without an open surgery.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
AddThis
Posts
