Doctors perform rare clubfoot surgery at Rajindra Hospital

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, September 28

Doctors at Government Rajindra Hospital performed a unique clubfoot surgery this week. Orthopedic surgeon, Dr RL Mittal, along with other doctors, performed the surgery to remove the clubfoot deformity of 17-year-old Asma of the Saharanpur district in Uttar Pradesh.

Clubfoot is a deformity in which an infant’s sole/soles of the foot is/are turned inward (inversion) often so severely that a patient is unable to walk normally.

Dr RL Mittal, Emeritus Professor, Government Medical College (GMC), Patiala, said the patient had clubfoot deformities in both feet since birth. She was operated twice in early childhood with contemporary techniques, he said. However, her deformities even got worse with age, he added.

“Surgical technique is meticulous with innumerable steps to achieve the best possible correction. It was a unique surgery and has a somewhat lengthy learning curve, requiring perseverance and dedication,” he said.

Dr Mittal also asserted that they had to keep a close track of the patient in follow up for at least three to four months during the post-operative care.

Dr Mittal had pre-operative teaching class of postgraduate students before surgery. Budding doctors witnessed surgery in full direct view with live commentary by Dr Mittal about all surgical steps.

Dr Manjit Singh said, “After we admitted the patient, we decided to call Dr Mittal, who is an expert in clubfoot surgery. Resident doctors got a chance to learn from Dr Mittal.”