Shoulder Arthrodesis Treatment in India

Arjun Saxena, a 48-year-old construction foreman,...

Arjun Saxena, a 48-year-old construction foreman, had his life upended by a catastrophic motorcycle accident five years prior. The crash shattered his right shoulder, leading to multiple failed surgeries and a chronic, debilitating infection (osteomyelitis) that destroyed the joint. Despite aggressive antibiotic treatments, his shoulder was left with severe bone loss and instability, causing constant, severe pain and a completely useless arm that hung limply at his side. He could no longer work, drive, or even perform basic self-care. His orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Mehta, explained that further reconstruction was impossible. The only option to eliminate the pain and provide a stable, functional limb was a shoulder arthrodesis, surgically fusing the shoulder bone to the scapula. Arjun was devastated by the loss of motion but desperate for relief. The surgery was long and complex, but successful. After a challenging year of recovery in a rigid brace, followed by intensive physiotherapy to strengthen his scapular muscles, Arjun achieved a pain-free, stable arm. He regained the ability to work with tools using his elbow and wrist, drive, and lift his grandchildren. Emotionally, he journeyed from anger and grief over his loss to profound gratitude. While he mourns the motion he lost, he celebrates the pain-free function he regained, calling the fusion his 'second chance at a useful life.'