Post-Polio disability - help needed

[manoj68verma]

Hi All,

We have a post-polio 35 yrs old female member in our family, who had polio when she was just 1 year old. As a result of this, her lower left leg got disabled. After many failed treatments, she ultimately ended up with using crutches, so now she can walk with crutches only. We are looking for a solution to make her walk without crutches, we have recently consulted couple of orthopedic doctors in Delhi, and they have come up with following options :


Option -1 : Perform 3 corrective surgeries (hip, knee and ankle)
Option -2 : Amputate affected lower leg and fit an artificial leg


We are kind of confused, just wondering if there is anyone here in our community who has expertise in this field or has any kind of experience dealing with this issue. Please let me know, any help/suggestion will be greatly appreciated.


Manoj

[deshi-jat]

Manoj,
Corrective surgery followed by caliper (a metallic frame to support leg from waist to foot) could be a good option. Take the opinion of few good orthopedic surgeons, in Delhi it won’t be problem to find them. Go to some big hospital such AIIMS, Ganga Ram, Safdarjang, etc., they can give proper advice after examining, how much muscles are there and what are the chances of improvement.

Amputation and artificial limb doesn’t seem an option here. Artificial limb only works if upper part of limb is normal and healthy. Unfortunately there is no cure for it, until some artificial muscles and neurons are available.

Let’s see, some members will come up with professional opinions.


Hi All,

We have a post-polio 35 yrs old female member in our family, who had polio when she was just 1 year old. As a result of this, her lower left leg got disabled. After many failed treatments, she ultimately ended up with using crutches, so now she can walk with crutches only. We are looking for a solution to make her walk without crutches, we have recently consulted couple of orthopedic doctors in Delhi, and they have come up with following options :


Option -1 : Perform 3 corrective surgeries (hip, knee and ankle)
Option -2 : Amputate affected lower leg and fit an artificial leg


We are kind of confused, just wondering if there is anyone here in our community who has expertise in this field or has any kind of experience dealing with this issue. Please let me know, any help/suggestion will be greatly appreciated.


Manoj

[malikdeepak1]

Manoj

I have seen two of our known ones having good improvements after surgery. One of them used to walk with a stick and after surgery he is able to walk without it now, although with a jerk (since his left leg is little smaller). His one leg was affected by polio. They went to some doctor in Vishakapatnam who used to operate in 2-3 hospitals (Prema being one of them). This is some 12-13 year old info. I am not sure if it still exists, but he was quite famous around 1998-2000.

[ravinderjeet]

भाई विशाखापत्तनम आला डाकटर पोलिओ खातर भोत मशहूर था , वो मरी होड़ नश ने काढ के ने अर दूसरी थां तें नश उड़े ला दिया करदा सर्जरी तें ,कोए एक बार तें ठीक हो जांदा अर किहे किहे का ३-४ ओप्रेसन तें ,पर सफलता का रेट ५०% के लगभग था उह्का | मन्ने कई बे विशाखापत्तनम जाणा पड्या करे बिजनेस के चक्कर में ,पहलम ते उड़े हरयाणा पंजाब के निरे लोग जाया करदे पर इब्सी ते ३-४ साल में कोए दीख्या कोणी स | मेरे जाण -पीछाण के सें कुछ नेवल अफसर में उनपे बुझ के बताउंगा अक वो डाक्टर इब्बी स अक नहीं | म्हारी गाल के एक छोरे ने कई बे ले गे थे , पर उह के ते कोए फरक कोणी लाग्या था |

[manoj68verma]

Thanks to all for their response. We consulted some more orthopaedic surgeons in Delhi, after examining they all think corrective surgeries and calipers is the way to go. As deshi-jat bhai indicated in his response, there was not enough strength in the leg for amputation option.

[deshi-jat]

Manoj,
My response was in context of artificial limb. In Delhi there are many orthopedic surgeons of international repute. Also, you can ask them for exact diagnosis (clearly written) and scan the X-rays. In Philly (your location) there are many good ortho clinics, you can send the diagnosis report and digital X-rays to sport medicine departments for their opinion to; Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Upenn Hospital, Temple University Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, etc. But Polio has been eradicated long back from US, so it is not highly likely that they can give a better opinion.



Thanks to all for their response. We consulted some more orthopaedic surgeons in Delhi, after examining they all think corrective surgeries and calipers is the way to go. As deshi-jat bhai indicated in his response, there was not enough strength in the leg for amputation option.