Coimbatore Hospital Performs Life-Altering Leg Surgery Free of Cost
When 26-year-old S Vijay from Salem arrived at Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) on January 2 with a severely fractured lower right limb, both he and his family feared the worst. Writhing in pain and having received limited help from government hospitals in Salem and Erode, amputation seemed inevitable. However, doctors at CMCH's Institute of Orthopaedics and Traumatology achieved what appeared impossible: they saved Vijay's leg completely free of charge.
A Mother's Relief and Medical Complexity
Vijay's mother, S Selvi, 46, expressed profound relief: "We had nearly lost all hope. His lower right limb was in terrible condition, and we believed amputation was the only outcome. Given the choice between Chennai and Coimbatore, we selected CMCH. Miraculously, they secured his limb, and we haven't paid anything for the treatment."
Dr. D R Hariharan, assistant professor at the Institute of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, described Vijay's case as one of their most complex surgeries. "Part of his limb bone was lost at the accident site, complicating the surgical process immensely. We stabilized the bone using external fixators. Once the soft tissue health improves, we will proceed with bone reconstruction through methods like bone grafting, the Ilizarov technique, or artificial bone grafts."
4,500 Successful Surgeries Since 2018
Vijay represents just one of the 4,500 patients who have undergone successful orthopaedic surgeries at the institute since its establishment in 2018. A CMCH source revealed that these procedures are performed free of cost under the Tamil Nadu Emergency Intensive Care initiative. This program ensures timely fracture management through rapid assessment, stabilization, and definitive treatment, significantly improving patient outcomes.
The source detailed two primary fracture fixation methods employed: closed fixation and open reduction. Closed fixation involves minimally invasive techniques like casting, traction, or percutaneous fixation, with 1,500 such procedures completed. Open reduction requires surgically exposing the fracture site to realign bones and secure them with internal devices such as plates, screws, or rods, accounting for 3,000 surgeries. The higher volume of open reduction cases highlights CMCH's capability in handling complex fractures that demand operative exposure and internal fixation.
Patient Testimonials and Regional Impact
Tamilselvi, 46, from Trichy, shared her experience: Injured in a road accident near Palakkad along with three family members, all sustained fractures, but her condition was critical, necessitating internal fixation. "All our treatments were provided free of cost," she noted gratefully.
Dr. Hariharan emphasized that in some cases, saving lives takes precedence over limb preservation. He cited the example of Raghumoorthy, a 43-year-old lorry driver from Salem who met with an accident in Jharkhand. Brought to CMCH six days post-accident, his lower limbs were non-salvageable due to the severity and delay. "Our priority was to save his life, which we did, though amputation of both legs was unavoidable," Dr. Hariharan explained.
Western Tamil Nadu's Trauma Care Hub
Dr. S Vetrivel Chezian, director of the Institute of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, stated that most patients undergoing vascular orthopaedic surgery at CMCH hail from Tamil Nadu's western districts. "We also receive trauma cases from border areas like Palakkad and Sathyamangalam towards Mysuru. The primary reason is that government hospitals in Nilgiris, Tirupur, or Salem often cannot handle such super-specialty treatments, especially for patients with comorbidities. For instance, trauma patients requiring vascular ortho surgery combined with a muscle flap can only be treated at CMCH in Western Tamil Nadu."
This initiative underscores CMCH's critical role in providing advanced, accessible healthcare, transforming lives through expert medical intervention without financial burden.
