Tamil Blog

Thursday 25 November 2021

Knee replacement surgery: Finding a good doc is the key

Many elderly patients think that their bad knees would eventually force them into a wheel chair for life! Not so! Modern medical science can put most of them back on their feet, says Dr Bharani Kumar, a bones’ specialist and surgeon from Chennai, India.

One of his patients, Surojeet Chatterji, even went on to climb a mountain after being treated for his failed knees!

Surojeet, an acclaimed pianist, had long wanted to visit the Machu Picchu heritage site, located at 7000 ft in the Andes Mountain, Peru, South America. He had, however, abandoned the idea after he injured his knees while out on a jog in the US. For five years he lived in unforgiving pain. He could not even bear the thought of climbing a staircase, let alone scale a mountain.



Things, however, changed soon after he came to India to work as a professor of piano at music composer AR Rehman’s school in Chennai! At the city’s Apollo Hospital, he met Dr Bharani, who operated on him and replaced his damaged knees with a pair of artificial ones.




Another of Dr Bharani’s patients, Vijayalakshmi Ashok, had had a similar account. She was, in some sense, worse off than Surojeet. Besides her damaged knees, she was also suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that causes the deformity of joints. Her husband says she could hardly steer a step; she was in such agony!

Eventually, she too had her knees replaced!

Surojeet and Vijayalakshmi are among the 120,000 people who go for knee replacement surgeries every year in India.

Most of the cases, come out good, given that India has some of the finest pool of bone specialists and surgeons in the world!

The significance of the doctor is highlighted by Surojeet. He recalls Dr Bharani telling him that not all patients qualify for a knee replacement surgery. Some are better off with more conventional treatment forms. It is just how a competent doctor assess and evaluates a patient!





In fact, Dr Bharani did not see Surojeet as a candidate for knee replacement, the first time they had met. It was only after the latter agreed to the rigorous conditions of post surgery and long-term care that the doctor decided to go for it.

“Body implants, whether screws, plates and knees caps, usually last for 10 years. Unless the owner is prepared to commit to the extra-ordinary and longterm conditions of care in the use of the new parts, it could mean another round of replacement surgery for the patient concerned” says Dr Bharani. 

“Surojeet was 65 years when he came to me. Ordinarily, knee replacement for him meant he would have had go under the knife again at 75.”

Knee replacement surgery is never easy on a patient. One, it can be expensive if he is not insured. Two, it entails months of painstaking and relentless sessions at the physiotherapist’s.

Surojeet says he spent 7 to 8 days at the hospital following the 3 hours of surgery. He spent another three month following up with his physiotherapist. 

Unlike Surojeet, Vijayalakshmi was a “copybook case for knee replacement”. Though only 50 when she met Dr Bharani, she was in a bad shape. The erosion of her knee had been compounded by rheumatoid arthritis. She was in severe pain and much discomfort, and her life was being wasted confined to the nooks of her house. 

Happily, for both Vijayalakshmi and Surojeet, the outcomes have been more than good! Both are now walking fine; both have got back to living their respective lives!

Needless to say, they think highly of Dr Bharani and his work. Surojeet describes him as humble, sensitive, understated and highly skilled — qualities that Surojeet thinks should be the standard for all doctors who watch out for their patients! In fact, Surojeet says his friends in the US who see him walk and go about his life, maintain that such good results cannot be achieved even there. 




Contact No :+91 8825881253



Monday 1 February 2021

Shoulder Replacement Surgery

Shoulder replacement surgery is done to replace the damaged parts of the shoulder with artificial prosthesis to reduce pain and restore range of mobility of the shoulder. This surgery has yielded high success rates to treat the severe pain and stiffness caused by end-stage arthritis and even a severe shoulder fracture. Shoulder replacement surgery not only relieves pain but also restores pain-free movement, strength and function of the shoulder.

Who can benefit from shoulder replacement surgery?

Shoulder replacement surgery can be beneficial for people with weakness or loss of motion in the shoulder, severe pain that interferes with their daily routine, persistent pain even when the shoulder is at rest, and also for those with no improvement in their shoulder condition after trying non surgical treatments like medications, injections, or physical therapy. Few condition that require a shoulder replacement surgery are:

  •     Osteoarthritis
  •     Rheumatoid arthritis
  •     Avascular necrosis
  •     Severe shoulder fracture

Recovery after shoulder replacement surgery

Oral medications are prescribed to ease the discomfort after surgery and it is recommended to start rehabilitation therapy as soon as possible. For at least a month after the surgery, it is important to have less arm function and avoid  lifting any objects that are heavy. Most people are able to resume their daily activities within two to six weeks. Shoulder replacement surgery is a safe and effective option to relieve shoulder pain and help people to resume everyday activities.

Blog Reviewed By: Dr. Bharani Kumar Dayanandam
Mail Us : info.chennaiortho.com@gmail.com
Book Your Appointment Here : chennaiorthopaedics.com/book-appointment

Friday 27 November 2020

What are knee ligaments and what are their injuries?

Ligaments are bands of tough, elastic tissue that connect bones to each other and provide strength and stability to the joint. In the same way, Knee ligaments are the elastic bands of connective tissue that hold the knee together. There can be various causes of knee ligament injuries including an injury caused by an accident or while playing sports, etc. When ligaments are injured, the knee joint may become unstable. A damaged ligament may limit proper knee movement and may cause an inability to turn, twist, or pivot the leg.  

There are four major ligaments in the knee that connect the femur (thighbone) to the tibia (shin bone). They are as follows:

  • Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL):  This ligament lies in the center of the knee. It controls the rotation & forward movement of the tibia (shin bone).
  • Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL): This ligament lies in the center of the knee. It controls the backward movement of the tibia (shin bone).
  • Medial collateral ligament (MCL): This ligament provides stability to the inner knee.
  • Lateral collateral ligament (LCL): This ligament provides stability to the outer knee.

What are the symptoms of a knee ligament injury?

The symptoms of a ligament injury may include the following:

  •   Sudden and severe pain
  •   You may hear a popping sound when the injury occurs  
  •  Swelling in the knee   
  •   Inability to move knees as you generally do
  •   Feeling like looseness in the joint
  •   Inability to put weight on the joint without pain or any weight at all

What is the treatment of a knee ligament injury?

 Treatment may include:

  • Muscle-strengthening exercises
  • Medicines such as ibuprofen
  • Usage of Ice pack to reduce swelling
  • Usage of protective knee brace during exercise
  • Surgery


How can you prevent an injury to the knee ligament?

It is usually difficult to prevent knee ligament injuries but some precautions can be taken to reduce their occurrence. These include the following:

  • Make sincere attempts to your thigh muscles strong with the help of regular stretching and strengthening.
  • Try to maintain flexibility.
  • Before taking part in rigorous exercise or physical activity, warm up your body with light activities.
  • Do not make rapid changes in your workout. Make changes slowly and gradually increase the weight.

Blog Reviewed By: Dr. Bharani Kumar Dayanandam
Mail Us : info.chennaiortho.com@gmail.com
Book Your Appointment Here : chennaiorthopaedics.com/book-appointment

Tuesday 22 September 2020

Regeneration of Cartilage

Cartilage acts as a kind of connective tissue in our body. The unique structure of cartilage makes it a flexible tissue but it is also very strong. It helps in keeping the motion of joints smooth as it coats the bone surfaces and acts as a cushion against force or impact. There are three types of cartilage in the body-elastic cartilage, hyaline cartilage and fibrocartilage. 

What causes damage to cartilage?

An injury or regular wear and tear can cause damage to cartilage tissues. If not treated timely, the damage can lead to arthritis. Unlike other tissues, cartilage doesn’t have a supply of blood and due to this, the damage that is done to cartilage cannot be repaired by the body.

How does the Regeneration of Cartilage work?

Once we reach adulthood, the repair of cartilage doesn’t work very well within the body, thankfully medical innovations have led to the regeneration of cartilage outside the body. In this process, rather than making use of an artificial implant, a natural way of healing the cartilage by using the cells of the patient is adopted. This can greatly help in regaining the normal function of the affected joint. Cultured cells are grown in a medical lab and are then injected with the aim to replace the dysfunctional or unhealthy cells.

How is the Regeneration of Cartilage done?

Small cuts or incisions are made in the bone to extract cartilage biopsy from a portion that may be considered a little less important. The procedure is generally conducted through arthroscopy. The extracted cartilage is sent to the lab where cells that match the size are constructed. This takes a few weeks. Once the cultured cells are ready, they are implanted through a small incision. 

What to expect after the procedure?

After the successful implant of cartilage, a routine programme of rehabilitation is followed. Most patients can resume their everyday activities within 2 months. However, the doctor would be the best judge and the given instructions must be followed strictly. 

Regeneration of cartilage is a process that involves a low risk of infection or disease transmission as there is no foreign material that goes inside. It can greatly help in preventing the progression of osteoarthritis which can further avert the need for a joint replacement.

Blog Reviewed By: Dr. Bharani Kumar Dayanandam
Mail Us : info.chennaiortho.com@gmail.com
Book Your Appointment Here : chennaiorthopaedics.com/book-appointment

Wednesday 22 July 2020

Five common knee injuries

The human knee is the largest and the most complex joint in the human body. It also happens to be the most vulnerable and heavily used one too, and hence, more prone to injuries. 

 Knee Injury

Problems of the knee can be either injury, mechanical problems, arthritis of various types and problems caused by other health issues. Knee injuries often involve damage to the various components that make up the joint, like the bone and muscles, cartilage, tendons and ligaments.

Five of the most common knee injuries are:
  1. Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries: this is one of the four ligaments connecting the thigh and the shin bones and an injury is when a tear appears in the ligament, weakening it. This is a very common sports injury and happens when a sudden and violent change of direction of movement occurs.
  2. Tearing of the Meniscus: the meniscus is a piece of cartilage that acts as a cushion or shock absorber between the thigh and shin bones. It is tough rubbery cartilage, and if the knee is suddenly twisted when weight is put on it, it can be torn or damaged. 
  3. Fractures: as the bones of the knee, including the knee cap, are among the most exposed bones in the body, they can be easily damaged or fractured, if any short, sharp force is applied to them, like a fall or a hard bump into a harder surface. This is worse for people with osteoporosis, a condition where the bone is weak and brittle, as a fracture can occur for seemingly no reason at all.
  4. Bursitis: The bursae are small liquid-filled bags that cushion the muscles, tendons and bones near the various joints. Bursitis is when the bursae become inflamed due to another injury in the same area.
  5. Tendinitis / Tendonitis or in our case Patellar Tendinitis: Tendinitis is a condition where one or more of the tendons, the thick fibrous tissue attaching the bones to the muscles, become irritated and inflamed. The patellar tendon is the one which connects the muscles on the front of the thigh to the shin bone. This too is a very common sports injury.
 Knee Injury

Blog Reviewed By: Dr. Bharani Kumar Dayanandam
Mail Us : info.chennaiortho.com@gmail.com
Book Your Appointment Here : chennaiorthopaedics.com/book-appointment






Friday 13 March 2020

Knee Replacement for your better Mobility

The joints of our body are critical for our movement and everyday activities, and among them the knee joint is one of the strongest and most important. Wear and tear, illness, or injury can damage the cartilage around your knee joint and hinder your movement.  

 Total knee replacement

Total knee replacement surgery or knee arthroplasty should be considered for those patients whose knee joints have been damaged by either progressive arthritis, trauma, or other rare destructive diseases of the joint. Such patients suffer from severe knee pain, swelling and even bowing of the leg which in turn limits the everyday activities. During knee replacement surgery, the surgeon takes damaged cartilage and a part of the bone out of the knee joint and replaces them with an artificial joint (prosthesis) made of metal alloys, high-grade plastics and polymers. A plastic spacer is placed between the prosthesis which ensures smooth movement of the new joint. 


Patients should have a discussion with an expert doctor on the risks and benefits before making decision about knee replacement. Post surgery, it is recommended to be active by moving around your house, taking walks, and doing the exercises as suggested by your physical therapist as too much rest can slow your recovery down. You can expect long-lasting results by following your doctor's guidelines as most knee replacements have good prognosis and lasts for an average of 20 years.


Blog Reviewed By: Dr. Bharani Kumar Dayanandam
Mail Us : info.chennaiortho.com@gmail.com
Book Your Appointment Here : chennaiorthopaedics.com/book-appointment

Tuesday 10 December 2019

Time to restore the stability

Shoulder instability is a condition with a loose shoulder joint that shifts around the socket after some injury or damage. Sudden dislocation, slipping would lead to severe pain and inflammation in the shoulder joints. This is associated with shoulder instability. Athletes or sportspeople are often faced with shoulder instability.

Shoulder Instability

Usually, shoulder instability can be treated with physical therapy, essential medication, and rehabilitation. However, for severe conditions, the doctor would recommend surgical management to treat shoulder instability. The surgery would differ based on the patient’s condition and focuses on tightening the shoulder ligaments that are loose.

Normally, the surgery depends on the condition or the severity of the patient’s shoulder. The surgeries would include arthroscopy, capsule shift surgery, bankart repair surgery, and latarjet surgical procedure. The doctor uses an arthroscope to identify and resolve shoulder instability.

The recovery period after surgery

Any surgery would require certain painkillers or relievers for a few days. These medications can treat the pain and provide the necessary comfort for the shoulder. The doctor would advise a sling for 5 days and would be asked to extend the period based on the patient’s condition.

Depending on the patient’s condition and the surgery performed, the doctor will recommend physical therapy after 5 days. This physical therapy is performed so as to strengthen the muscles, restore flexibility, and to strengthen the shoulders. The exercises would vary from resistance to strengthening so that the shoulder gets stabilized.

In the first 4-6 weeks, limits on the range of motion will be used to protect the repair. It is recommended to drive only after the first 6 weeks or when the sling is taken. However, heavy lifting and strenuous activities need to be avoided until 12 weeks. Sportspeople and athletes should avoid weightlifting for a minimum period of 16 weeks or as per doctor’s advice. Sports physical therapists could suggest exercises that would prevent injuries in the long run and help maximize performance.


To avoid re-injury and stabilize the shoulder, the doctor would recommend certain tips for the betterment of the shoulder. Ice packs can be used to treat pain and swelling. It is recommended to apply an ice pack daily for 15-20 minutes for a few days. With this and other physical therapies, the shoulder joint will not get stiff. The recovery period will vary based on the shoulder damage, however, the full recovery would definitely take several months.

https://www.chennaiorthopaedics.com/contact-us

Mail Us : info.chennaiortho.com@gmail.com
Blog Reviewed By: Dr. Bharani Kumar Dayanandam

Knee replacement surgery: Finding a good doc is the key

Many elderly patients think that their bad knees would eventually force them into a wheel chair for life! Not so! Modern medical science can...