Patna: Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) will establish an independent Spine Sub-Speciality Unit under its department of orthopaedics to provide specialised treatment for patients with complex spinal disorders. Doctors said the advanced unit is expected to become functional by the end of this month and will focus on complicated spine surgeries and specialised care.The health department issued a notification regarding the creation of the unit on Thursday, following the state cabinet’s approval in May for the creation of 39 new posts at PMCH. The new spine unit will function as a separate sub-speciality unit under the department of orthopaedics.Dr Mahesh Prasad, associate professor in the department of orthopaedics, has been nominated as the in-charge of the Spine Sub-Speciality Unit. He said the facility would strengthen specialised spine care at the state’s premier govt hospital.“This will be the first facility of its kind in Bihar and is expected to greatly benefit patients suffering from various spine-related problems. We will soon send our requirements to the health department for a separate operation theatre, equipment and other necessary tools. We expect the unit to be inaugurated this month,” Dr Prasad said.The creation of a dedicated unit is expected to help PMCH handle complicated spinal cases under a specialised team rather than treating them as part of routine orthopaedic services. The unit will also facilitate development of focused expertise and infrastructure for spine-related procedures.Meanwhile, the health department on Friday launched a special campaign for the surgical treatment of children suffering from cleft lip, cleft palate and tongue-tie under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK). The campaign, being conducted at 12 medical institutions across Bihar, was inaugurated at PMCH.On the first day, five children underwent successful surgical procedures, including two cleft palate surgeries, two cleft lip surgeries and one tongue-tie surgery, PMCH superintendent Dr Rajiva Kumar said.On the first day, five children underwent successful surgical procedures, including two cleft palate surgeries, two cleft lip surgeries and one tongue-tie surgery, PMCH superintendent Dr Rajiva Kumar said.
