Chennai: In a survey, the World Congress of Osteoporosis has found that Indian bones the weakest. Taking a cue of it, city doctors are creating awareness during National Bone and Joint Day which falls on Saturday.
Doctors say fractures, especially the ones caused by poor nutrition and road accidents are preventable.
Tamilnadu records a high number of road mishaps in which neck and spine injuries are high. Taking this into account, city doctors will be creating awareness on first aid to be administered during emergencies on 4 and 5 August.
Orthopedic at Government Medical College, Omandurar, Dr S Varaprasad said, “Road accidents occurring in the city affect the lives of people. If it is a cervical spine injury, the chances of survival is less. If it damages any other lower part of the body, the person can survive with deformities. People who wear helmets have chances of survival.”
He said that it also depends on the nearest available hospital who can stabilise the patient’s condition.
Dr Kamaraj Hospital founder-chairman, Dr T Kamaraj said, “One crore people in the world have suffered fractures due to osterporosis. Seven crore have suffered fractures each year due to various reasons. This disability does not allow them to live long. Fractures are preventable. The World Congress of Osteoporosis has found that Indian bones the weakest because of low calories intake, low protein diet and high carbohydrates.”
There are three reasons for it – Nutrition, sedimentary lifestyle and obesity especially in women, he said.
Post menopause, there is a chance of women becoming obese due to the decrease in oestrogen levels. The bone density too drop making them prone to fractures, he added.
Ortho expert at Dr Kamaraj Hospital, Dr P Radhakrishnan said, “A free BMD (Bone Mineral Density) scan will be done for the public on 4 and 5 August. A BMD test uses X-rays to measure the amount of minerals to check whether the bones are weak. We will also be conducting an exhibition on Ortho and Trauma care”.
| Numbers speak |
| * According to a survey, nearly 29 people died daily in road accidents involving buses in 2017 across the country. In Tamilnadu, it stood at 1,856 annually.
* According to the data from the Director General of Police (DGP) office, in 2016, 8,532 people were involved in 7,486 road accidents in Chennai city. |