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In a remarkable medical breakthrough, a 19-year-old girl from Himachal Pradesh, India, has had her bowlegs successfully straightened using a pioneering AI-assisted technique. Ayesha, who was born with bowlegs—a condition where the legs bow outward at the knees—faced significant challenges growing up. The deformity not only affected her physically but also led to feelings of inferiority and social withdrawal during her school years.
Doctors at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi took on the complex task of correcting Ayesha’s leg deformity using the Ilizarov fixator combined with six-axis correction software. The Ilizarov technique, an orthopedic surgical procedure, involves the use of an external fixator to reshape, reconstruct, or lengthen bones. In this case, the surgeons utilized a hexapod circular fixator, a device comprising two rings connected by six adjustable struts, allowing movement in any direction.
“This is a Hexapod which has six legs and can move in any direction,” explained Dr. Manish Dhawan, Senior Deformity Correction Surgeon at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. “These tools played a crucial role in effectively correcting her leg deformities and also helped her gain an additional two inches in height.”
The hexapod fixator is paired with advanced computer software that enables precise control over the correction process. Surgeons use the software to simulate the correction by drawing the bone contour, showing both the initial position of the bone fragment and the calculated final position.
“This is not just a frame but a unique, universal software-based deformity correction unit,” added Dr. Dhawan. “The software calculates the desired correction speed and direction, ensuring accurate and effective results.”
Ayesha underwent a physically and emotionally demanding surgical process that lasted between two to three months. Despite the challenges, the procedure was a success, and Ayesha is now back on her feet. She currently works at a national bank in Uttar Pradesh, her confidence and quality of life significantly improved.
This case marks a significant advancement in the field of orthopedic surgery, showcasing the potential of AI-assisted techniques in correcting complex deformities and transforming lives.
