Yesterday my wife fractured her ankle in a minor fall. We went to Medanta Medicity, Gurgaon(one of the top hospitals in Delhi-NCR) and got her examined by Dr. Attique, who unhesitatingly recommended surgical insertion of a plate with screws to repair the fracture.
Thankfully my chaacha is a retired orthopedic surgeon, so I told the doctor to speak to my uncle who’s advice we valued as he was an orthopedic surgeon himself. Dr Attique described the problem to my uncle, who concurred with him that the best course of action for a ankle(movable joint) in the given condition was surgery to prevent arthritis at a later stage.
Just to be sure I took the X-Rays to my uncle at 08 pm. Upon looking at the X-Ray my uncle was shocked. As the X-ray indicated a grade 1 fracture and not grade 3 which the doctor had described to him. My uncle informed me that there was absolutely no need for surgery in this case. In fact a surgery would end up creating long term problems besides exposing a person to risk of infection.
This starting development confused us thoroughly as we had great trust on Medicity where my mother, mother in law and myself have been treated satisfactorily in the past.
So without disclosing to my uncle I took off at 0830 pm to meet another very renowned senior practicing surgeon from Ganga Ram, a family friend, but independent of my uncle. To my surprise this senior orthopedic surgeon also concurred with my uncle that surgery was a complete madness.
The estimated cost of surgery was 1.75 lacs with a follow up surgery after 6 weeks to remove the screw (and to be billed separately).
Please don’t trust any doctor without reason and take multiple opinions especially when doctors suggest treatments, tests and surgeries which are expensive. It seems many doctors have no qualms cutting people open for extra income. I fear this may be actively encouraged by the corporate Hospitals.
Attaching X-Ray of the fractured ankle which did not need surgery.
Do share this to spread awareness.