Mohali based orthopaedic surgeon talks to the Daily Excelsior
about his journey and immense potential in medical science.
A casual phone call from a friend from his hometown changed Dr Manuj Wadhwa’s world for ever. What his friend told him spurred the orthopaedic surgeon, who had earlier emigrated to the West, to leave behind a successful career and return to India serve his own countrymen.
Now heading the Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement Department at Max Elite Institute in Mohali, Wadhwa recalls : “My friend called me up one day and during our conversation enquired about my plans on going back to India. Honestly, I had no desire whatsoever to return. But when he suddenly asked me if I was contributing anything worthwhile to my country. I decided there and then to pack up and go back and resolved to dedicate myself to treating patients in India.’’
Born and raised in Amritsar,Wadhwa graduated with an MBBS from University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, and went on to earn his postgraduate degree from Government Medical College, Amritsar. He was later awarded the prestigious Ranawat Adult Joint Reconstruction Fellowship at Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, along with Dr C S Ranawat, who operated upon former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Dr Wadhwa’s passion for his work and an unwavering determination to help needy patients has helped him to carve a niche for himself.
Dr Wadhwa recently entered the Limca Book of World Records for performing the highest number of orthopaedic procedures by a single surgeon in month.
Having spent four years of his life abroad, Dr Wadhwa now wants to further exploit the potential of the latest advances in medical science and is at present actively engaged in setting up a process based medical unit in Mohali, like in the developed countries. “In the advanced nations, the concept of process based medical care, where everything is specified and clear, is prevalent and we need to have such systems here. I’m trying to put in place such a mechanism through this hospital. The West has the technology we have the capability.’’
Wadhwa advises young medical students and professionals to maintain a high level of credibility in their profession, exhorting them to focus on collective rather than individual efforts.
Conferred with the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Shiromani Award in 2004, this go-getter makes it a point to set his own bench mark every time. “I see every day as a new opportunity to learn something and try to bring about title changes around me. It was one such change that brought me back,’’ he avers.
Pioneering the concept of CT-based surgeries and navigation in Joint Replacements, he is the first to start Rotating Platform and High Flexion Total Knee Replacement in North India. Having performed over 12000 joint replacements in his career spanning 12 years, he broke new grounds in the field of arthroplasty and made use of the latest technology in replacement of hip, knee, shoulder and elbow joints (both primary, revision and minimally-invasive computer assisted joint replacements).
Sharing his thoughts on his personal accomplishments, Dr Manuj says, “There is no secret recipe to success. For me, the most rewarding moments are when I see the smile of a patient as she/he realizes that the pain in her/his joints is now a thing of the past and he can go back to lead a good quality of life.”
Talking about Arthritis, which is one of the commonest problems in the elderly, Dr Wadhwa says, “Arthritis is more common in patients who are overweight and weight loss tends to reduce symptoms associated with arthritis as hips and knees get worn out early in heavier patients. Every overweight elderly should lay emphasis on shedding those few extra kilos and get freedom from arthritis pain to a considerable extent. Genetic factors too play major role as Knee arthritis tends to run in families.”
Striking a positive note, he further adds that with the introduction of the latest tissue preserving total knee replacement surgery, things have started changing for the better for arthritis patients. This latest painless and blood less Knee Replacement Surgery technique ensures swift recovery. It combines benefits of minimally invasive surgery, patient specific implants with higher flexibility, modified pain control concepts and minimal bleeding and suits the elderly population.” Dr Wadhwa has recently launched an information booklet, Know Your Joints, both in Hindi and English languages.
Dr Manuj is an active member of several professional bodies, and has participated in numerous national and international meets. He has a number of national and international publications to his credit and has been widely covered by several national and international channels as well as print media for rare feats in the field of Joint Replacement surgeries.
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