ISKSAA JOHANNESBURG TRAVELLING FELLOWSHIP

October 23^rd 2017 to November 10^th 2017

At the outset we would like to thank Dr Pushpinder Bajaj, Dr Lalit Maini and ISKSAA for providing the opportunity for this fellowship.

We are grateful to Prof Ponky Firer for having us with him for 3 weeks to visit at Linksfield Knee Clinic, Netcare Linksfield hospital, Jo’burg.

We arrived at Johannesburg on a beautiful Monday morning at O R Tambo International Airport on October 23^rd. October at Jo’burg is the start of summers so the weather was pleasant and soothing. We were greeted at arrival by our transport assistance who dropped us at the hospital.

Prof Ponky introduced us to his team with whom we were to spend three weeks which was followed by a brief discussion regarding his views on Kinematic balancing / alignment in Total Knee Replacement. This was followed by our transfer to the B and B which would be our Home for the next three weeks!!!

Prof Ponky not only arranged for our stay but was kind enough to help us out with the expense.

In the next three weeks we witnessed (and also scrubbed in) various knee surgeries which included total and unicondylar knee replacement, patellofemoral replacement, High tibial osteotomy and arthroscopic ligament reconstruction surgeries.

We also had an opportunity to observe Dr Brad Gelbart performing various knee arthroscopic surgeries at Netcare Linksfield and Netcare Rosebank Hospital. We had an opportunity to observe almost all sorts of Meniscal repair (bucket handle repairs, root repairs, ramp lesions) with all possible techniques-all inside and inside out; which was one of the our anticipated goal from this fellowship.

Our learning was not limited to OR as Prof Ponky was receptive enough to our doubts, views and counterviews in the outpatient clinic. We were lucky enough to be with him during his consultations.

The best part of our Fellowship was our visit at Cadaver and Skill Lab, Durban. Thanks to Prof Ponky who arranged for the cadaver workshop, we spent a good 6 hrs at the cadaver lab for knee arthroscopy where we got to use implants for meniscal repair and acl reconstruction. We had a good demonstration by him and discussion on nuances of ligament reconstruction around the knee.

We had decided to explore Jo’Burg on weekends and it was fun going around the City in the bus tour. We also had a glimpse African Wild life at the Lions Park.

In all the Jo’Burg fellowship experience was an educational feast with an entertainment quotient. Fellowship is always an opportunity to encounter advances in one’s field and experience new cultures-Jo’Burg fellowship fulfilled both.

In the end we would like to thank Prof Ponky firer, Dr Brad Gelbart and his team – Ms Lynette, Ms Salome and the Netcare hospital staff for their support and help during our fellowship.

Regards,
Dr. Dhawal Bakhda,
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon,
Shalby Hospitals, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Dr. Sohail Abbas
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon,
Adiva Hospital, New Delhi.