Kalam undergoes orthopaedic treatment

Kalam undergoes orthopaedic treatment

Monday, February 7, 2005 (New Delhi):

President A P J Abdul Kalam, who had fractured his shoulder bone in a fall inside Rashtrapati Bhawan, today underwent a "closed reduction" of the fracture.

"Today morning, under short general anaesthesia, closed reduction of the fracture has been done.

"His Excellency had an uneventful recovery and is cheerful. His condition is fine," said Maj Gen L P Sadhotra, Commandant of the Army Hospital, Research and Referral.

Need for rest

A panel of orthopaedic surgeons from the army as well as civil hospitals, including the AIIMS, examined Kalam and decided to go for the "closed reduction" procedure.

A closed reduction of a fracture is a procedure in which the doctor sets a broken bone without making an incision in the skin.

"This procedure is sufficient now. The panel of doctors will again examine His Excellency on Tuesday. Only then it can be known what time he can be discharged and how much rest he will need," the Commandant said.

He also added that the President was unlikely to require a plaster.

No visitors

Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson S M Khan said "while the President was speaking to doctors, no visitors had been allowed yet."

Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi had spoken to Kalam and conveyed their best wishes for his recovery.

The Army Chief J J Singh also visited him today morning.

The 74-year-old President had slipped during a walk near the Herbal Gardens in the Rashtrapati Bhavan complex.

As a result of Kalam's injury, the Governors' conference that was to open on Tuesday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan has been postponed. (With PTI inputs)

from ndtv.com