Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru(JS)

Mangaluru, Mar 3: An intricate and rare surgery done at Unity Health Complex here saved the arm of a little girl who was suffering from cancer.

Addressing a press meet, Dr Jalaluddin Akbar who performed the surgery said, "We performed the surgery to save the arm of a 10-year-old-girl who was suffering from cancer of the right arm bone, and presented to Mangaluru Institute of Oncology.

"It was then planned by the tumor board of MIO to perform this complex surgery to save the child's arm at Unity Health Complex Mangaluru. Unity Health Complex has a well equipped state-of-the-art operation theater and post operative care, which made the surgery possible.

"The procedure was to remove the bone and joint of the right arm and reconstruct it by taking one of the bones from the leg of the patient. The surgery took 12 hours and was performed successfully for the first time in this region," Dr Akbar said.

"Ten years ago we would not even have imagined that this kind of surgery could be performed in India. Now the expertise and infrastructure is available in Mangaluru and a few other centers in India namely Mumbai, Bangaluru, Chennai, Delhi and Hyderabad.

"Instead of removing the arm, we save it and also the life of the child. The only requirement is that the patient should come at an early stage to consult the doctor, so we can save both limb and life," he said.

The team of doctors who helped Dr Jalaluddin Akbar to perform this complex procedure are Dr Suresh, Dr Imthiaz, Dr Dinesh Kadam and Dr Mahendra Ullal.

Dr Imthaz, orthopedic surgeon and Ajmal M Habeeb, managing director, Unity Day Care and Health Sciences were present at the press meet.