Apollo Hospital’s orthopaedic team achieves yet another milestone

MUSCAT: Dr Ranjith Nair, head of Department, Orthopaedics, Apollo Hospital Muscat led his orthopaedic team to perform an entire Osteochondral Autograft Transfer System (OATS) surgery arthroscopically (key-hole surgery technique).

A surgical procedure of this kind is a rare feat in Oman, as majority of the centres skilled in this discipline perform this technique as open surgeries involving a longer recovery period, says a press release.

The OATS surgery is commonly performed for cartilage damage at the weight bearing areas, mostly seen amongst sportsmen engaged in contact sports such as football, rugby, basketball etc.

“OATS is not recommended for everyone but is typically used for younger patients under 50 with minimal cartilage damage and available healthy cartilage for transfer. A successful OATS surgery will enable the bone and cartilage to grow into the damaged area of the knee, successfully resolving the patient’s knee pain. OATS is considered to be the gold standard in orthopedic surgery for successful cartilage repair,” said Dr Ranjith.

The patient, on whom the OATS surgery was performed arthroscopically, was a 22 year old male who approached Dr. Ranjith citing continuing pain in his left knee, the aftermath of a fall which he sustained while playing football, 3 months prior. After administer- ing the Lachman test (a clinical test used to diagnose injury of the anterior cruciate ligament or ACL) and gaining a positive result, an MRI was performed further revealing a large osteochondral defect in medial femoral condyle associated with ACL tear left knee. The patient was then briefed on the planned procedure involving an ACL reconstruction with hamstring autograft and osteochondral autografting (OATS) for the chondral defect which would be accomplished during the same sitting.

Despite risks that are typical to OATS Surgeries including post-operative bleeding, Deep Vein Throm- bosis (DVT), infections, stiffness, numbness to part of the skin near the incisions and injuries to vessels or nerves, the OATS Surgery performed arthroscopically by Dr Ranjith and his team was successful, adding yet another milestone in key-hole surgery for Apollo Hopsital’s Orthopaedic Team.

“The entire surgery including the OATS and ACL reconstruction was performed arthroscopically with minimum incisions.The patient is recovering smoothly and post operativelyhas already started physiotherapy and non-weight bearing crutch walking. We will continue to monitor his progress and expect him to achieve the full function of his knee and foot within an estimated short-term recovery period,” concluded Dr Ranjith.

Dr Dilip Singhvi, Medical Director, Apollo Hospitals added, Dr Ranjith and his team have always been focused on using better surgical techniques for excellent results, enabling faster recovery and by performing OATS under arthroscopyfacilitates the same. Further, the capabilities in terms of skills on the clinical and non-clinical side, infrastructure and the commitment and dedication displayed by our team, has moved our Department of Orthopaedic to a ‘Centre of Excellence’.