Polio Rehabilitative Surgery Camps

Abstract

Twenty two surgical polio camps were organized in 8 districts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh from January 2000 to May 2006. Over 8000 children were screened, and three groups were made for physiotherapy, calipers and those who needed surgical correction for their deformities. 3370 patients were advised physiotherapy, 2920 were given calipers while 1250 patients were operated. By and large bony operations were avoided. 96 % of cases had full correction of deformities and only 4 % of cases needed further physiotherapy before fitting of orthoses. Such rehabilitative surgical polio camps offer a ray of hope for these illiterate, ignorant and unfortunate patients to lead an independent respectable life.

Keywords

• Poliomyelitis
• rehabilitation
• surgerical camps