Bold surgery by Indian Spinal Injuries Centre gives teenager new lease of life

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<strong>Thanks to Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC), its doctors and staff, a 16-year-old boy, suffering from acute Kyphoscoliosis, a spinal deformity since birth, will now be able to walk normally and stand straight for the first time in his life. Following a successful two-stage surgery, Himeshwar, will not require oxygen support.</strong></p>
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The boy faced difficulty in breathing for the last three years due to poor lung condition caused by this deformity and needed to carry an oxygen cylinder wherever he went.</p>
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Talking about the patient to the media, Dr. Ankur Nanda said: "Himeshwar from Gurdaspur in Punjab came to our hospital. He suffered from Kyphoscoliosis that started increasing when he was 12. He could not breathe properly as his chest could not expand. His condition was so bad that while standing, his trunk tilted to one side, and he could not walk with erect posture.”</p>
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Dr. Nanda is ISIC’s Senior Consultant Spine Surgeon and Unit Chief of Spine Services. He went on to add: "His SpO2 (oxygen saturation or the percentage of oxygen in blood) was at 48 per cent and he was on continuous oxygen support for the last 3 years. He needed correction of spine deformity to return to normal life."</p>
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Describing the surgery as extremely challenging, Dr. Nanda said there are high probability of weakness in legs developing due to nerve stretching while deformity correction. The patient’s lung condition was also an impediment.</p>
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Following the surgical procedure, Himeshwar's spine which had a preoperative degree of 128 has been corrected to 61-degree.</p>
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Expressing his satisfaction on the progress of the Himeshwar, Dr. Nanda said: "The boy had a new lease of life as he was able to walk normally from the next day of the surgery. He is now totally off oxygen support and leading a normal life.”</p>
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Himeshwar is active like other children of his age and attending school and preparing for his Class X examinations.</p>