American Mountaineer to Undergo Double Orthopedic Surgery in Chennai

(PRLEAP.COM)
Chennai, Feb 10: A 59 year-old American mountaineer James Spark, who recently underwent an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) ‘reconstruction’ and ‘partial medial menisectomy’, will be able to pursue his passion for rock climbing in three to four months’ time, his doctor has said.
"He (Parker) will be able to go back to his normal work and activity. In three to four months, he will be able to go for rock climbing in which he excels", Dr A K Venkatachalam, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Sri Venkataeswara Hospital Chennai, India said.
"I am really looking forward to take up rock climbing and participating in races once again, which is what I really love", Spark, a mason by profession and outdoor sports enthusiast from Colorado USA, said from his bed at the hospital.
Venkatachalam said James had torn his ligament in 1997, which made him unstable while walking. "We have now removed one-third of the torn portion of the medial meniscus (semi-lunar cartilage) and reconstructed his torn ACL using a patellar tendon".
"In 1997, when I got injured, I was climbing the 26,900 feet high Cho Oyu mountain, about 40-west of Mount Everest and in Tibet," he said. He has managed to scale Mt.Everest with his damaged knee in 2000.
He says, “However in November 2005, while practicing to climb Shishapangma in Tibet (26,400 feet), I fell down and had great pain, but I walked back to my base camp atop the mountain range in Tibet".
Through the Internet, he managed to contact Dr Venkatachalam, Knee specialist in Chennai for the surgery.
Incidentally, Spark also has a dislocated left shoulder and a torn rotator cuff, for which he will undergo treatment in a few weeks time in the city.
Dr.Venkatachalam said Spark would have to use crutches and braces for two weeks, after which he would undergo surgery for his left shoulder. The patient is currently recuperating at a seaside resort and is able to weight bear fully on his operated leg. He is discovering the delicacies on offer at various Sea food restaurants in the tourist town of Mahabalipuram.