Bhubaneswar: After battling years of physical and psychological trauma because of a rare hormonal disorder, three girls from Odisha and one from Jharkhand breathed a sigh of relief this year.Thanks to SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH), Cuttack, which has performed complex genital reconstructive surgeries on the four patients diagnosed with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) that can cause atypical development of external genitalia in females.The surgeries were carried out by the hospital’s plastic and reconstructive surgery department on different dates this year for free.Dr Biswajit Mishra, professor in the plastic and reconstructive surgery department at SCBMCH, said on Thursday that it is the first govt hospital in Odisha to conduct such surgeries.
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“The patients, aged between six and 18 years, had delayed corrective treatment because of social stigma, fear of surgery and financial constraints. They were initially under the care of endocrinologists and gynaecologists before being referred for reconstructive procedures,” he said.He added unlike conventional approaches that may compromise function and sensitivity, his team adopted an advanced reconstructive technique that preserves important nerves and blood vessels while correcting the anatomical abnormality. The method helps retain normal sensation and improves long-term quality of life, Mishra said.He further said CAH is caused by a deficiency of specific enzymes involved in hormone production. In some affected girls, excess androgen production during development can lead to masculinisation of the external genitalia. Depending on the severity of the disease, patients may also have associated abnormalities involving uterus, ovaries or vagina.Mishra said early diagnosis can significantly improve outcomes. “While such corrective procedures are often performed in early childhood in many developed countries, awareness and access to specialised care remain limited in India, resulting in delayed presentation,” he said.Hospital authorities said all four surgeries were performed free of cost, saving the patients expenses that could otherwise have run into several lakhs of rupees at private centres. “The successful interventions have provided significant relief to the patients and their families, while underscoring the need for greater awareness, early screening and multidisciplinary management of CAH,” Mishra said.
