Paediatric orthopaedic OPD at KGMU to start from Friday

LUCKNOW:Country’s first government sector paediatric orthopaedic department will start its OPD from Friday at the King George’s Medical University.

“This is first independent teaching department in paediatric orthopaedic in the government sector,” said HoD Prof Ajai Singh adding: “The department will now be conducting studies in the area and also appoint doctors for MCh in paediatric orthopaedic.” For past several months the paediatrict orthopaedic was running as a unit on the campus and along with general orthopaedic, Prof Singh was conducting OPD and operating patients. Now a government order has been issued for a full-fledged department. With independent department, there will be dedicated and separate para-medical staff for the speciality. Also a 50-bed ward will be dedicated to children.

The demand for teaching posts and resident doctors will soon be sent to the state government for sanction and another request will be sent to MCI for allowing MCh in paediatric orthopaedic department. In the second phase, paramedical staff and non-teaching posts will be demanded.

Commenting upon the need for such a department Prof Singh said about 30% of all trauma (injuries etc) happening in the road accidents involves children.

In a study done upon cases coming to KGMU, it was found that children less than 10 years of age usually get injured during play, while kids between 12 and 16 years of age mostly get injured in road accidents. “If we look at the national crime record bureau data, there has been 68% rise in paediatric trauma cases in the past 10-years,” said Prof Singh.

Prof Singh said as injuries in minors are not taken seriously by the family, it has been observed that often small injuries that can be treated in a few days time become chronic due to delay in getting medical advice.

Prof Singh said that apart from treatment, the new department in future will also run awareness campaigns for injuries to minor