7 hour "limb-sparing" surgery at Gleneagles Global Health City performed by Dr Rajasundaram Director, Institute of Oncology

22 YEAR OLD YOUNG MAN SUFFERING FROM BONE CANCER MADE TO WALK AGAIN AFTER 6 MONTHS

Chennai, April 23rd 2019: A Twenty Two-year-old young man from Saudi Arabia who was suffering from large bone tumour, Osteosarcoma, arising from the lower end of his left thigh bone (Femur) underwent seven-hour "limb-sparing" surgery at Gleneagles Global Health City performed by Dr Rajasundaram Director, Institute of Oncology. Surgery has now enabled the patient to walk again.

 

Dr Rajasundaram, Director, Institute of Oncology, Gleneagles Global Health City

The patient was suffering from severe pain and swelling over his left knee for more than six months before reaching Gleneagles Global Health City. He came on a wheel chair, not able to walk. An incisional biopsy was done in his country revealed as Osteosarcoma.

Doctors at Gleneagles Global Health City decided to perform limb-saving surgery, As a first step patient underwent chemotherapy before surgery to downsize the tumour and simultaneously with the help of scan images, custom made titanium prosthetic implant with an artificial knee joint was specially designed for the patient before his surgery. After a long and meticulous surgery of several hours involving surgical oncologists, plastic surgeons and orthopediacians, the bone tumour was removed along with the left knee joint while preserving the unaffected thigh muscles, blood vessels and nerves. The custom implant was placed with extreme precision and the musculature was refashioned around it. The surgery was concluded after 7 hours.

Speaking about the successful surgery Dr Rajasundaram, Director, Institute of Oncology, Gleneagles Global Health City said “Osteosarcoma is the most common type of cancer that arises in bones, and it is usually found at the end of the long bone, often around the knee. Osteosarcoma affects the teenagers most commonly. Previously patients affected by Osteosarcoma used to be treated with mutilating surgeries like amputation which is a removal of the affected limb at the thigh level but with the current technological advancement, this is no more the reality, now the patient is reassured that a limb-saving surgery will help them to retain their limb “.

In this case, at the time evaluation, we found a large bone tumour arising from the lower end of his thigh bone and we decided to perform “limb-sparing" surgery.  Following surgery, the patient underwent physiotherapy in a stepwise manner and within a week he was able to perform complete weight bearing on his own and able to walk added Dr Rajasundaram.

In general, surgery is the main treatment for bone cancer. The type of surgery depends on where your cancer is and how big it is. In most cases, surgeons do "limb-sparing" surgery. This is when the surgeon removes cancer without removing the arm or leg where the cancer is growing. Depending on the type of surgery, the doctor might need to "rebuild" part of a bone after surgery said, Dr Selva Seetharaman, HOD, Institute of Plastic Aesthetic and Cosmetic Surgery, Gleneagles Global Health City.

Most tumours develop in the bones around the knee, either in the distal femur (the lower part of the thigh bone) or the proximal tibia (the upper part of the shinbone). The upper arm bone close to the shoulder (proximal humerus) is the next most common site. Still, osteosarcoma can develop in any bone, including the bones of the pelvis (hips), shoulder, and jaw. This is especially true in older adults.  The pain can come and go, but it usually gets worse over weeks to months. The pain is sometimes worse at night and with exercise. Some people with bone cancer might also see or feel a swelling on their bone or in the tissues around the bone.

About Gleneagles Global Health City, Chennai

Gleneagles Global Health City, the sprawling 21-acre facility located in Perumbakkam, Chennai is the largest facility of Gleneagles Global Hospitals India. With a capacity of over 1000 beds and accreditations from leading agencies, the facility is Asia’s most trusted and leading Multi-Organ Transplant Centre. The hospital has undertaken several path-breaking Liver, Neuro, Heart, Lung and Kidney procedures. It is recognized by several international and national level accrediting agencies. World-class infrastructure, dedicated staff and a commitment for medical excellence are the USPs of this facility. The hospital has several achievements to its credit and continues to work on several pioneering procedures.

Gleneagles Global Hospitals has multi-super speciality hospitals in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Mumbai. The brand is the most preferred hospital group for multi-organ transplants in Asia region. The parent entity of Gleneagles Global Hospitals is IHH Healthcare, a leading premium integrated healthcare provider with a network of 84 hospitals and more than 16,000 licensed beds. It is one of the largest healthcare groups in the world by market capitalisation and is listed in the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia and Main Board of SGX-ST. IHH is a leading player in the home markets of Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey and India, and in their key growth markets of China and Hong Kong.