TIMELY INTERVENTION BY S.L. RAHEJA HOSPITAL'S DIABETIC FOOT TEAM SAVES PALGHAR FARMER’S LEG FROM AMPUTATION

TIMELY INTERVENTION BY S.L. RAHEJA HOSPITAL'S DIABETIC FOOT TEAM SAVES PALGHAR FARMER’S LEG FROM AMPUTATION 

 Palgarh, 30.4.25: 65yr old Ravi Desai (name changed), a Palghar resident, met with an accident in September 2024 while riding his scooter, severely twisting his right ankle. His family rushed him to a local orthopedic doctor; however, the surgery was ineffective. Ravi has been diabetic for over a decade and had developed Charcot Foot due to Diabetic Neuropathy, a type of nerve damage that causes numbness in hands and legs; his ankle was severely infected and rotated nearly 180 degrees due to joint dislocation & soft tissue collapse, but he felt no pain due to his condition. His family had started to lose hope when they heard of S.L. Raheja Hospital, Mumbai - A Fortis Associate’s Palghar OPD clinic and consulted Dr Arun Bal, Director - Diabetic Foot Surgery and Dr Archit Chitnavis, Consultant-Diabetic Foot Surgeon and at S.L. Raheja Hospital, Mumbai - A Fortis Associate. 

Recalling the painful months her father had to endure, Ravi’s daughter Diya, said, “My father was always an active man, spending his day at the farm, on his feet all day. However, after his injury, he was bedridden for over a month as his foot showed no signs of healing. We came to know of the Palghar OPD and took him there to meet the doctors; they told us how serious his condition was. As he kept walking on his unhealed injured foot due to a lack of sensation, it caused further damage unknowingly. He underwent a corrective surgery which was successful, we were assured by the doctors that my father will be back on his feet by May ‘25.” 

Talking about Ravi’s surgery, Dr Arun Bal, Director - Diabetic Foot Surgery, S.L. Raheja Hospital, Mumbai - A Fortis Associate, said, “Ravi had Charcot Foot, one of the most serious complications of Diabetic Neuropathy, and unfortunately, it often goes unnoticed until significant damage has already occurred. In his case, the lack of sensation led to continuous walking on an injured foot, which caused the joints to collapse and deform. What made this case particularly alarming was the degree of dislocation. Upon evaluation by Dr Archit Chitnavis and the team in Palghar, he was referred urgently to the S.L. Raheja Hospital in Mumbai.” 

 The patient was admitted to Diabetic Foot Charcot Foot unit, under the Department of Diabetic Foot Surgery managed by Dr Dhruimin Sangoi, Consultant-Diabetic Foot Surgery, Dr.Sachin Vilhekar, Consultant-Diabetic Foot Surgery and Dr Ravindra Panse, Consultant-Diabetic Foot Surgery Temporary stabilization was performed using a Steinmann Pin Fixation, and a plaster cast was applied to prevent further joint damage. He was advised to wait for five weeks before undergoing definitive surgery. After a re-evaluation six weeks later in March 2025, the joint showed signs of partial healing progression. 

 “A final surgical procedure was performed on March 27, 2025, where the heel bone was fixed to the leg bone using an intramedullary nail and additional screws to stabilize the foot. Post-operative recovery has been positive, with the joint now fully stabilized and no signs of swelling or infection. The patient was discharged for 2-3 days post-operation and advised to return after 15 days for plaster removal. He has been given special footwear that he has to wear for a few months and has been advised not to put pressure on right foot as it heals. When something like this happens in diabetic patients, about 90 per cent cases need amputation. Ravi was very lucky in that regard, since timely intervention saved his foot” added Dr Arun Bal. 

 This case highlights the critical importance of early and specialized intervention in Diabetic Foot complications. Outreach clinics like the one in Palghar play a pivotal role in early detection, timely referral, and in salvaging the limb. Without intervention, Ravi’s case would have likely resulted in a below-knee amputation — a common outcome in similar unmanaged cases in rural settings. 65-year-old Ravi is now back home with his family, but he will have to come for follow-up appointments so doctors can check how his healing is progressing. Diya, who has spent months at home looking after her father, is waiting to see him up on his feet again. 

 S.L. Raheja Hospital in Mumbai is a leading healthcare facility in Western India, featuring a dedicated Department of Diabetic Foot Surgery, including a specialized unit for Charcot Foot Management. 

  Next OPD at Palghar is scheduled for May 10; for appointments contact Umesh Sharma 88798 82832. 

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