The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

‘Knee joint surgeries yielding good results’
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 19
In the wake of new advances in the knee joint replacement techniques and availability of better implants, there is a ray of hope for patients of knee joint disorders.

The knee joint replacement surgeries are yielding better results with patients showing faster recovery and having fewer complications.

This was stated by Dr Ashok Rajagopal, director, department of orthopedics, Fortis, Noida, while delivering a lecture on “Knee joint replacement” in an update on “Recent advances in knee arthoplasty - 2007” organised by Dayanand Medical College and Hospital here yesterday.

The programme comprised an interactive session on live surgery by doctors, including included Dr J.L. Bassi and Dr M. Yamin, both from the DMCH.

The moderators during the session were Dr Harpal Singh Selhi, Dr Rajnish Garg, Dr Sanjeev Mahajan and Dr Deepak Jain.

Focusing on the latest implant, “gender knee”, Dr Rajagopal said it was basically meant for females.

“Earlier, the same kind of knee implant was used for both males and females but due to the difference in bone anatomy, ZIMMER, a knee implant manufacturing firm, has for the first time introduced knee implant exclusively designed for females. This implant results in faster recovery and causes less pain.”

In the live surgery session, the knee replacement of a 64-year-old woman, suffering from advanced arthritis, was carried out. She had her right knee replaced and the surgery turned out to be uneventful.

Dr J.L Bassi, while sharing his views on knee replacement surgery, said the new implant, introduced by ZIMMER, was useful for knee patients, particularly females. He acknowledged that Dr Rajagopal had made an informative presentation regarding knee replacement, which will prove of immense help to the delegates.

Dr Yamin proposed a vote of thanks to the delegates. Dr R.S. Sodhi, president, Ludhiana Orthopedics Association, and its secretary, Dr Harpal Singh Selhi, felicitated Dr Rajagopal for his contribution to the advancement of orthopedics in the region.

Surgical oncology conference begins tomorrow
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 19
The Mohan Dai Oswal Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation is organising a three-day national conference of the Indian Association of Surgical Oncology (IASO)- NATCON-IASO-2007- from September 21 to 24, here. The conference is being held for the first time in the state of Punjab.

Addressing a news conference here today, Dr Satish Jain, medical director of the host institution and organising secretary of the conference, informed that the national conclave will be preceded by a pre-conference international video operative workshop on “Minimal Invasive Surgery and Radical Onco-Surgery” on September 20 at Paul Auditorium in Punjab Agricultural University. PAU is the venue for the main conference as well. The workshop will be inaugurated by Dr S. Sadasivam, president of the IASO. Dr Sanjeev Misra, national secretary of the association, will also be present at this occasion.

The workshop, said Dr Jain, will have five sessions.

The main conference, according to Dr Jain, will be inaugurated by Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, while other dignitaries at the function will include Punjab minister for medical education and research Tikshan Sood and PAU vice chancellor Manjit Sing Kang.

The programme for the scientific sessions during the meet will have discussions on kidney cancer, cervix cancer and bone cancer. There would be panel discussions by renowned faculty in the field on various aspects of pancreatic cancer and surgical management of stage IV cancer of various organs.

Around 600 delegates were expected to attend the meet, which would also select and sponsor a young surgical oncologist for a fellowship at Detroit (USA) from out of the seven aspirants.

Poor patient needs help
Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, September 19
Karan, 22, has been undergoing treatment at Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) here after getting electrocuted while working at a cold storage unit located on the Jalandhar bypass in the city on June 17. The hapless youth hails from a poor family of Sirsa.

He sustained injuries on the head along with severe burns on his arms and face. Later, his arm had to be amputated because of gangrene. Other burn injuries on his body are still under treatment at the hospital.

Karan’s employer had brought him to the CMCH with the promise of providing financial assistance for the treatment, which, however, he failed to honour.

Till now, the CMCH has been providing treatment at its own to the victim and the outstanding bills of the treatment stood at Rs 2.5 lakh.

Keeping in view the inability of Karan and his family to raise funds to clear the bills and to continue the treatment, the hospital has issued an appeal to the public to help the poor patients. All donations meant for Karan should be made in favour of Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, with “Treatment for Karan” written on the back side of the cheque, demand draft or on the covering letter.

700 examined at eye check-up camp
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 19
More than 700 patients were examinedat a free eye-check up camp organised by NRI Shalender Kaur Dhillon at Sehzad village here today, with the cooperation of Dr Ramesh’s super-speciality Eye and Laser Centre.

Free medicines were distributed to the patients, some 300 spectacles were provided to those with sight problem and 139 patients were selected for intro-ocular lens implant operations. Simarjit Singh Bains, councillor and president of the District Youth Akali Dal distributed snacks among patients, who were operated upon.

Basketball tourney from tomorrow
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, September 19
Major basketball outfits of the country such as ONGC, Dehradun, Customs, Cochin, Western Railway, Ratlam (M.P), Indian Navy, Mumbai, Indian Railway (Chhattisgarh), India Juniors and Punjab in the men’s section, while Southern Railway, Chennia, Western Railway, Mumbai, MTNL, Delhi, South Central Railway, Sikandrabad, Central Railway and Punjab in the women’s section, will be vying for top honours in the third edition of the Raja Porus Prize Money All-India Basketball Tournament, to be held at Giddarbaha (Muktsar) from September 21 to 25.

Teja Singh Dhaliwal, honorary secretary, the Punjab Basketball Association, said matches will be played on league-cum-knockout basis (two-tier) basis. The winners in the men’s and women’s sections will receive a cash prize of Rs 1.5 lakh each, while the runners up will get Rs 1 lakh each.

The third position holders will pocket Rs 75,000 each and cash prize of Rs 50,000 will be given to the teams finishing at fourth place, he added.

Martial arts meet ends
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, September 19
The Ludhiana district full contact martial arts meet concluded here yesterday. The following were the final results.

Below 45 kg: First- Rahul, second- Hassan and third-Mahinder ; 46-48 kg: First- Harsimran, second- Ramgopal and third- Amir Lal ; 49-51 kg: First- Laxman , second- Jagmohan and third- Hira Lal ; 52-54 kg: First- M Daobsar , second- Namin and third- Rajiv Sharma ; 55-57 kg: First- Sunil Kumar, second- Vijay Kumar and third- Shyam.

58-60 kg: First- Gursharan Singh, second- Vipan Kumar and third- M D Vojul 3; 60-63 kg: First- Nain, second- Jai Kumar and third- MD Jamshed; 64-66 kg: First- Kamal Madaan, second- Paltu Kumar and third- Rajiv Kalia; 67-69 kg: First- Gautam, 70-72 kg: First- Lakhbir Singh, second- Bharat Bhushan and third- Vijay Kumar ; above 81 kg- Madhu Kant stood first.

Inter-zonal sports tourney postponed
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, September 19
The ongoing Ludhiana District Inter Zonal Sports Tournament has been postponed in view of a report carried in a section of the press that tournament dates were clashed with those of the unit tests being held in the schools.

The tournament had started on September 17 and was scheduled to be conducted till the first week of October. Gurmeet Singh Kular, conduct secretary, and Gurbachan Singh Grewal, general secretary, tournament organising committee, said following the orders of senior officials of the Punjab School Education Board, the tournament has been postponed for indefinite period. The new dates would be announced later, they added.

City to have three SPs now
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 19
For better management of law and order, the city would have three SPs instead of two. Sajjan Singh Cheema was posted as SP (City-III) yesterday. He would be in-charge of the Dakha and Sadar areas.

The third post has been created after the Dakha area was included in the city last year.