16-year-old boy walks after corrective surgery

“It’s a real life story of a teenage boy who suffered from a congenital condition of the spine called scoliosis for 16 years. Subsequent to successful surgery on his spine, he now can lead a normal life and look forward to the future,” said Forte Group Chairman M.F.A. Riyas, opening the media briefing that was held in connection with what has proved to be a medical miracle.

In Sri Lanka to present the case of young Mohamed Meshari, who had a bent back, namely scoliosis, a condition he suffered from birth, was Dr. K Sridhar, Head of Brain and Spine Surgery at Global Hospitals and Health City, Chennai. When Dr. Sridhar was first consulted a few months back, he recommended that a surgical correction be performed at the very earliest.

This surgery, he said, would increase the life-span of the boy and prevent respiratory complications that are common in a scoliosis affected person, besides correcting his posture to the best extent possible.

Dr. Sridhar explained that surgery at this stage was often complicated as the spine was bent and a complete correction was not possible in most cases. Mohamed Meshari’s sister who also has a similar deformity of her spine in fact went to the UK for corrective surgery and unfortunately has not experienced the success that her brother has and in fact is currently contemplating a revision of her surgery at Global Hospitals and Health City, Chennai.

The surgery on Mohamed Meshari was performed in two stages. “In the first stage the chest was opened and the bend in the spine was corrected in a highly complicated surgical procedure. After four days the second procedure was performed from the back, and screws were placed in the spine and the curvature of the spine was corrected. The surgery took approximately eight to 12 hours each time and any wrong move or extra force would have left the boy paralysed waist down for the rest of his life,” said Dr. Sridhar.

“The Neuro-anesthesia team led by Dr. Ponniah performed a ‘wake-up’ test to see if any damage had been done to the nerves and spinal cord. Expertise played a key role and the surgery was successful with an improvement of more than 60% of the curvature.”

Mohamed Meshari, who was present at the media briefing, can now lead a normal life, which is close to the ideal.

“These days there is a whole new world of possibilities with regards to scoliosis treatment, where children most at risk could be identified, thereafter which the most effective treatment, depending on the gravity and extent of the problem could be identified, whilst allowing for the study of which treatment has the most effect on altering the natural course of scoliosis,” said Dr. Sridhar.

Commenting on this rare scoliosis surgery Global Hospitals Group Chairman and Managing Director Dr. K. Ravindranath said: “Global Hospitals Group is at the forefront of the latest in brain and spine surgery. Our teams of highly skilled, vastly experienced surgeons perform the latest in spine treatments and surgical techniques. At Global Hospitals and Health City, Chennai, as well as in all our other units in the group, we constantly strive to deliver medical services of international standards. Our focus on niche multi super specialty and multi organ transplantation has helped us to render specialised, highly complex surgeries and anyone wishing to avail themselves of our services can visit our centres in India, rather than explore more expensive options in Singapore, UK and USA.”

Global Hospitals Group Executive Director Chandra Sekhar said that Global Hospital’s facilities in Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad are now receiving complex cases from across many parts of the globe, especially India’s SAARC neighbours, the Middle East and the African regions.

“We share a special bond with Sri Lanka, its doctors and its people. Our doctors have helped many Sri Lankan patients with complex ailments ranging from conditions of the liver, GE, pancreas, brain and spine, kidney, heart and orthopaedics. Our Group’s oncology services, which were launched in Bangalore, will shortly be launched in Chennai, adding to our ability to administer 360 degree care for cancer patients as well. The unique case of Mohamed Meshari you have just witnessed is becoming a way of life for us at Global Hospitals; one that is highly satisfying.”