Chandigarh-The surgeries, conducted by Dr Vishal Kumar, Additional Professor of Orthopedics, PGIMER, have brought relief to patients suffering from degenerative cervical myelopathy. The surgeries, conducted by Dr Vishal Kumar, Additional Professor of Orthopedics, PGIMER, have brought relief to patients suffering from degenerative cervical myelopathy. (File)
The PGIMER, Chandigarh, has achieved a significant milestone by successfully performing three cervical spine disc replacements in just one week. The surgeries, conducted by Dr Vishal Kumar, Additional Professor of Orthopedics, PGIMER, have brought relief to patients suffering from degenerative cervical myelopathy.
The patients, including a 57-year-old woman and two male patients aged 49 and 54, were experiencing difficulty in walking, decreased hand grip and neck pain radiating to their upper limbs. Following the surgeries, all patients reported improved pain and are on the path to recovery. The procedures, which involve the replacement of cervical discs to restore normal function and flexibility of the spine, have been made possible through government health care schemes.
Kumar, known for his expertise in spine surgery and innovative approaches, has been instrumental in the successful outcomes of these surgeries. His contributions to the field of spine surgery have been recognised with many national awards and patents for his inventions. He has more than ten patents, copyrights, inventions and descriptions of surgical approaches and procedures to his credit to date.
According to Kumar, degenerative cervical myelopathy is a degenerative condition of the cervical spine that commonly occurs in the age group after 40 years of age and in the elderly. There are several predisposing factors, one is the job profile of the patient, like sitting long-term on chairs, not taking care of the cervical spine and neck muscles, not doing regular exercise of the neck muscles and physiotherapy, smoking, and drinking alcohol.
“We see the condition more in males, as they have longer necks, and indulge more in smoking and drinking, and also work on machines etc,” explains Kumar. Symptoms include pain in the neck, radiation of pain to arms, hands, and fingers, stumbling gait, unstable gait pattern, and decrease in mobility and difficulty in performing day-to-day activities.
“While there are many treatment options, the advantage of cervical disc replacement is maintaining the flexibility of the neck, freedom from the radiation of pain, and long-term improvement in gait pattern,” the doctor added.
He says that for a healthy spine, we must eat a good diet with high protein and calcium, do regular neck exercises, get up and move several times a day if in a sitting job, especially on the desk, do isometric neck muscle and stabilisation exercises and avoid drugs, alcohol and smoking.”