Apollo Hospitals group will be hosting the 8th biennial meeting BRACHIALCON 2019 between 29th to 31st March

Apollo First Med Hospitals, Chennai Convenes the 8^th Edition of BRACHIALCON 2019

 Chennai, 28th March, 2019: Department of Plastic surgery at Apollo First Med Hospital, a part of the Apollo Hospitals group will be hosting the 8^th biennial meeting BRACHIALCON 2019 between 29^th to 31^st March in Chennai. Eminent Brachial plexus experts from USA including Dr.Allen Bishop,Consultant and Group Leader ,Mayo Clinic, USA and Dr.Roger Cornwall,Clinical Director, Cincinnati,Ohio, USA will share their experience and expertise in Brachial plexus Surgery with more than 200 delegates from across the globe during the two-day conference.

 

(Left to Right seated) Dr. V. Purushothaman, (Senior Consultant Plastic Surgeon) Apollo First Med Hospitals,  Dr. Roger Cornwall, Clinical Director, Orthopedic Surgeon,  Cincinnati Children's Hospital & Medical Centre, USA,  Prof. R. Venkataswami, (Head and Senior Consultant), Apollo First Med Hospitals seen along with patients, Mr.Shivakumar, CEO, Apollo Hospitals Chennai (Seated Exterme Right)

Department of Plastic surgery at Apollo First Med Hospital specialises in all kinds of Plastic reconstructive surgeries especially Hand surgeries and Microsurgery. The department is known for treating Brachial Plexus complexities through peripheral microsurgical nerve surgeries especially Brachial plexus surgeries. Brachial plexus are a group of nerves that originate in the cervical spine and crisscross with each other in the neck and go down the arm. Injury to the brachial plexus leads to partial or complete paralysis of the limb.

 

(Left to Right standing)  Dr. V. Purushothaman, (Senior Consultant Plastic Surgeon) Apollo First Med Hospitals,   Dr. Roger Cornwall, Clinical Director, Orthopedic Surgeon,  Cincinnati Children's Hospital & Medical Centre, Prof. R. Venkataswami, (Head and Senior Consultant), Apollo First Med Hospitals.  Mr.Shivakumar, CEO, Apollo Hospitals Chennai  (Exterme Right)  seen giving goodies to children 

(Pediatric patients)

Tamil Nadu has a distinction of being a state with very high road accident fatalities and many more of them being permanently disabled due to injuries like brachial plexus injuries. Majority of the patients are young adults either college going students or in their early stages of their career. A paralysed dominant hand and arm prevent them to go back to the regular work and studies. Apart from the paralysis, some patients develop severe constant excruciating pain preventing them from even carrying out their daily activities. These patients also suffer from depression and other psychological problems.

In a road traffic accident, Brachial Plexus Injury is often missed or wrongly diagnosed as the accident victims most of the time have other serious injuries to the Brain, Spine and chest.  The focus is more to save the life of the accident victim. An accident victim if diagnosed to have injured brachial plexus, early referral to Reconstructive Plastic Surgeons followed by complex microsurgical nerve reconstruction within 2 to 6 months is crucial for good functional recovery. 

Brachial plexus disorders is also caused during childbirth affecting new-borns. Injuries of the brachial plexus may be mild, with only temporary sequelae (a condition caused by an injury), or devastating, leaving the child with a drooping, insensate arm. Severity depends on the number of nerves involved and the degree to which each spine nerve is injured.

Speaking during the conference, Prof. R. Venkataswami, (Head and Senior Consultant), Apollo First Med Hospitals highlighted, “There is lack of awareness regarding brachial plexus injuries and treatment. If the patient is not treated within the golden period of between 3months to 6 months following injury, other secondary procedures will only give to sub optimal results.” Unlike adults, brachial plexus injury in children affects the growth and development of the limb and usually the affected side is smaller than the opposite side.

Elaborating on the Brachial Plexus surgery, Dr. V. Purushothaman, (Senior Consultant Plastic Surgeon) Apollo First Med Hospitals, said, “Unlike other surgeries, recovery from Brachial Plexus surgery takes more time to recover. In accident victims, the recovery of muscles and function is slow and takes at least 2-3 years of dedicated and regular physiotherapy to revive full hand functions.  In Paediatric Brachial Plexus injury when spontaneous recovery in Children is often poor, early surgery within 4-6 months of age is essential for good results. We have seen over 200 Paediatric Brachial Plexus cases in the last 5 years”.

In last few decades, there have been many significant advancements in Brachial plexus management mainly due to better understanding of the nerve growth and newer techniques. Complex newer microsurgical nerve by-pass techniques similar to that of cardiac bypass is possible nowadays, where we can assure near normal recovery in partial injuries of brachial plexus. In complete injuries of brachial plexus the consensus is still evolving regarding the best way to manage these patients, this conference will be a platform for the specialists to share knowledge and discuss further advancements in the treatment.

About BRACHIALCON 2019:  In 2004, 1^st Operative Brachial Plexus Surgery Workshop, first of its kind was held at Chennai conducted by Prof. R Venkataswami and organised by Apollo First Med Hospitals under the leadership of our beloved Chairman Dr. Prathap C Reddy and Vice Chairman Preetha Reddy. Prof R Venkataswami is the Founder president of Brachial Plexus Surgery Group of India (BPSGI).  BRACHIALCON 2019 is the 8^th Biennial Meeting conducted by BPGSI –Organising Committee includes  Dr V Purushothaman- President and Organising Chairman  ; Dr Sabari Girish Ambat –Organising secretary ; Dr Somesh Balakrishnan -Treasurer.

ABOUT APOLLO HOSPITALS: It was in 1983, that Dr. Prathap Reddy made a pioneering endeavour by launching India’s first corporate hospital - Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. Over the years Apollo Hospitals has established itself as home to the largest cardiac practice in India with over 160,000 cardiac surgeries. Apollo Hospitals is also the world’s largest private cancer care provider and runs the world’s leading solid organ transplant program.  As Asia’s largest and most trusted healthcare group, its presence includes 9,215 beds across 64 Hospitals, 2,500 Pharmacies, over 90 Primary Care and Diagnostic Clinics, 110  plus Telemedicine Centres and 80 plus Apollo Munich Insurance branches spanning   the length and breadth of the Country.

As an integrated healthcare service provider with Health Insurance services, Global Projects Consultancy capability, over 15 medical education centres and a Research Foundation with a focus on global Clinical Trials, epidemiological studies, stem cell & genetic research Apollo Hospitals has been at the forefront of new medical breakthroughs with the most recent investment being that of commissioning the first Proton Therapy Center across Asia, Africa and Australia in Chennai, India. Every four days, the Apollo Hospitals Group touches a million lives, in its mission to bring healthcare of International standards within the reach of every individual.

In a rare honour, the Government of India issued a commemorative stamp in recognition of Apollo's contribution, the first for a healthcare organization. Apollo Hospitals Chairman, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, was conferred with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan in 2010. For more than 30 years, the Apollo Hospitals Group has continuously excelled and maintained leadership in medical innovation, world-class clinical services and cutting-edge technology. Our hospitals are consistently ranked amongst the best hospitals globally for advanced medical services and research.