A surgical technique pioneered at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) by Prof. Bhavuk Garg is being hailed as a major breakthrough in the treatment of patients suffering from grotesque and severe spinal deformities. Over the past seven years, the procedure has brought new hope to patients who earlier faced extremely high surgical risks and limited treatment options.
The technique, described in an international scientific publication in 2020, is a modified form of posterior vertebral column resection (PVCR), a complex operation used for correcting rigid and life-altering spinal deformities. According to the published study, the modified method preserves certain posterior spinal elements until later stages of surgery, helping improve stability during correction and potentially reducing complications.
Doctors say patients with severe deformities often arrive with twisted spines, breathing difficulty, chronic pain, inability to stand upright, and profound social stigma. Earlier correction methods for such extreme cases were associated with significant complication risks. Clinicians familiar with the AIIMS approach say refinements in technique, planning, and execution have dramatically improved safety outcomes.
“In the past, these surgeries were feared because of the possibility of major neurological or life-threatening complications. Today, with better technique and experience, outcomes have improved remarkably,”
Patients who once struggled to walk, sit comfortably, or participate in normal daily life are now returning to school, work, and family life after surgery. Families describe the transformation as nothing short of life-changing.
The AIIMS-developed method has also drawn attention from spine surgeons beyond India, adding to the country’s growing reputation in advanced orthopaedic and spinal care. Over seven years of clinical use, the innovation is increasingly being viewed as a blessing for patients with some of the most difficult deformities to treat.
For many who had lost hope, a straighter spine has also meant restored confidence, dignity, and a second chance at normal life.