TIRUPATI: A national level ‘bone bank’ is to be set up in the Balaji Institute of Surgery, Research and Rehabilitation for the Disabled (BIRRD) here in order to take up all bone-related treatments, said Dr Madanmohan Reddy, Director of BIRRD.
Addressing a media conference on Friday, Dr Madanmohan informed that all works and patient treatment services that were paused due to Covid-19 have since been revived at the BIRRD hospital.
He said that the bone bank was to help provide more specialised services to cancer patients and the hospital would perform the surgery twice a month. He said that unlike the six to 12 months waiting for a kneecap surgery or replacement, patients can now get them done within 48 hours, he said.
He said because of Covid protocol, the number of surgeries has come down to 20-25 per day, which will now increase. He pointed out that as their laboratory has been upgraded and specialist doctors have been appointed, there will be no need to send patients to other hospitals for a pre-anaesthesia test (BP-check).
Dr Reddy said that TTD Chairman YV Subba Reddy has agreed to provide free kneecap and other operations for below poverty line patients.
“As a result, polio, paralysis and disability operations were being performed free of cost. All fracture cases are being treated under ESI and Aarogyasri schemes and the patients have to bear the cost of implants”, he added.
He said that because of the support extended by TTD EO Dr K.S. Jawahar Reddy “we have introduced efficient and patient-friendly software for implant purchases and also initiated steps to install 3D printing technology for an artificial limbs’ production unit, CT scan and MRI equipment. On December 3, we launched a bionic arm unit for those losing their arms in accidents,” he said.
