The Unique VectorVision System Sets Apart CNS At Ganga Hospital

The complexity of the surgeries at the hospital helped it attain the tag of an international research centre, says Jayata Sharma.

VectorVision System

The Coimbatore-based Ganga Hospital has been recently selected as the reference and research centre for computer navigated surgery (CNS) for the Asia Pacific region, by the US-based Brainlab, the world leader in medical field. The decision was taken at the 73rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of orthopaedic surgeons held at Ilinois, Chicago.

The first CNS at the Ganga Hospital was performed in the year 2004. Since then, more than 450 CNS have been done. Quite a few hospitals across the globe do CNS, some being in India itself. But what sets Ganga Hospital apart from others in India is the unique VectorVision System used here.

Dr S Rajasekaran

Dr S Rajasekaran, Director and Head, Department of Orthopaedic and Spine Surgery, Ganga Hospital says, “Our hospital is using the Open Platform system, which is very versatile and can be used to perform various types of orthopaedic procedures in different areas of the body. The VectorVision system at our hospital is one of this and it can be used for orthopaedic surgeries, joint replacement surgeries and accident surgeries. Our hospital is the only one in the whole country and in South East Asia which has performed CNS in all the above three fields.”

Another speciality is that the navigation process is done in association with ISO-C-3D arm, which is capable of giving three- dimensional fluoroscopic images. Currently, there are only four hospitals in the world (Ganga Hospital being the only one in Asia), doing this type of spine navigated surgery.

Besides the high number of surgeries, the committee was impressed with the complexity of the cases performed. The surgeons were able to innovate many new modifications, and that was the main reason of selection for the Research Centre.

For instance, other hospitals in India, while performing spine surgery, use the CP reference centre, in which a CP scan is done before spine operation. This scanning is done lying on the back, whereas, the actual operation is done lying on the stomach. So, there are some differences in the scans, which can lead to hazardous results. In Ganga Hospital, the surgeons have developed a method in which there is no need of a CP scan. Scanning is done lying stomach down, that gives the perfect picture of every inch of the spine to be operated.

Under the training programme, periodical courses will be conducted for senior surgeons from world over in all three aspects of navigated surgery – spine surgery, joint replacement surgery and trauma surgery. The duration of the courses can vary from one to four weeks, and will largely depend on previous expertise of surgeons. The consultants involved in this training programme are Dr J Dheenadhayalan, specialist in Trauma and Shoulder surgery, Dr Ajoy Prasad Shetty, specialist in Spine surgery, and Dr S R Sundararajan, specialist in Knee surgery. No international faculties will be engaged in the training.

The hospital has been chosen to be a research centre. Software engineers from Germany will come and with the help of the surgeons at Ganga Hospital will explore new dimensions in surgeries.

About the hospital being a reference centre, Dr Rajasekaran says, “All over the world, doctors face some difficulties while performing operations. Our hospital is an authorised centre for removing such hurdles. Surgeons can also, before performing surgeries, mail here the details and take advice.”