500 orthopaedics discuss tackling ankle-foot injuries

New Delhi: Over 500 orthopaedics participated in a conference here aimed at improving medical treatment for ankle and foot injuries in India.

Currently, over 50 percent of Indians having ankle or foot problems undergo surgery in hospitals of medically advanced Western countries as India lacks several advanced treatment procedures.

"India lacks advanced medical procedures for foot and ankle injuries. Even for surgeries, patients prefer undergoing surgeries outside India," said R. Bhalla, senior consultant and former chairman of the department of orthopaedics at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, where the event was held.

He said most of the young orthopaedics in India frequently misunderstand and misdiagnose ankle injuries.

"The delegates benefitted from the lectures and hands-on workshop on managing foot deformities and latest medical techniques available for the deformities," said Bhalla.

"By organising this conference, we have brought various foot and ankle specialists on one platform to teach young surgeons to diagnose and treat a broad range of foot and ankle conditions that can occur at any stage of life, from newborn to teen years and from active adults to seniors."