Spinal rehabilitation offers a ray of hope

bangalore: nagarathna's life has turned topsy-turvy thanks to a not-so-gentle nudge from her favourite cow. three years ago, and just 17 then, the girl was grazing her cow when it butted her in the neck (spinal) bones. since then, she has been paralysed below her neck. the diagnosis: fractures of cervical 4 and 5 neck (spinal) bones. says dr thomas chandy, director of hosmat, who has now admitted nagarathna for a spinal rehabilitation programme, "three years after the accident, she is not able to move her lower limbs. she has no sensation in these areas at all. there is also no bladder or urinary control and hence a catheter is required permanently. bowel sensation is also impaired." the girl was referred to hosmat from ravi melwani's fosa humanitarian hospital on bannerghatta road. the only positive developments have been the slight movements at the shoulder and elbow joints. her hands are in a fixed position because of the deformity caused by the accident and the fingers are not able to carry out any functions. over these years, during which nagarathna's condition has only driven her family to despair, forcing her father, krishnappa, to sell off his house and other property to pay earlier hospital bills. "what do i with my five other daughters and their brother?"asks krishnappa. "as part of her spinal rehabilitation programme, we are attempting to train her for minimum activities of daily living and sitting balance, transfer to wheelchair, self-catheterisation and bladder training and prevention of bed sores,"explains dr chandy. hosmat is one of the few hospitals in south india which has a spinal cord, neurology and neurosurgery rehabilitation in addition to orthopaedic rehabilitation. says resident medical officer dr ajith benedict rayan, "unfortunately, most spinal cord-injured patients with paralysis are rejected by most hospitals due to the high cost, infection, difficult nursing and legal problems." the specialised rehabilitation centre consists of 50 beds and handles such cases with a trained team consisting of orthopaedic surgeons, neurologists, neurosurgeons, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. it also has its own orthotic centre that makes braces, calipers and artificial limbs. according to dr chandy, spinal rehabilitation is difficult because the patient is paralysed, clinically there is no control of bowels and bladder, bed sores and infection, depression, urinary problems and infection and extremely high costs." (those wanting to help nagarathna can send their donations to hosmat accident trauma poor patients foundation. details can be had from dr ajith benedict rayan on 5593796/ 5593797/ 5543796).