Bengaluru: Government hospital puts accident victim back on her feet

BENGALURU: “I was told by doctors at a private hospital that I would never be able to walk again,” said 14-yearold Usha, a victim of a road accident that occurred a month ago. After the accident, Usha's parents frantically rushed her to a private hospital in the city where the doctors said that her legs might have to be amputated, as there was no pulse or blood circulation.

“We were crushed when we were told that her legs might be amputated as they were paralysed,” said her mother, sitting next to her daughter. To bring down the cost of the operation, the family decided to give Victoria Hospital a shot.

“It was a case of fracture of the right femur and right forearm. After examining Usha, we noted that there was no flow of blood and advised her not to go in for a vascular repair surgery, which would have cost her around Rs 2-3 lakh at any private hospital,” said Dr. Ramalingaiah, Professor of Orthopedics, Victoria Hospital. He admitted Usha in March to Victoria Hospital and advised her to wait for her blood circulation to improve. “We waited for her collateral vascular circulation to develop, as the reports did not suggest that we needed to amputate her legs,” added Dr Ramalingaiah.

The patient was operated on in March and was kept under observation for a month. “A rod and nails were put in place for the femur and tibia. The operation was a success  and there was no gangrene,” said the doctor, who along with a team of other orthopedic surgeons performed the surgery.

Usha can now move her legs and fingers freely, but requires regular followups and physiotherapy. “She still experiences pain in her legs and her palms. This will go away in time only with timely physiotherapy,” advises the doctor.

“I am glad that her legs did not need to be amputated as advised by doctors at a private hospital. I am also relived that the entire operation cost me only Rs 6,000,” said the elated mother.