Prof Chavali Vyaghreswarudu, MBBS, MS, FICS, FACS was an orthopedic surgeon of Andhra Pradesh, India. He had spent a greater part of his life for the welfare of polio victims and developed several innovative techniques in the treatment of the disease.
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He was born in Rajahmundry to an Ayurvedic doctor. He has done M.B.,B.S., double M.S. in General Surgery and Orthopedics from Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam. He was professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam.
He was the first Professor of Orthopaedics in King George Hospital and the first to establish the Orthopaedics Department in Andhra Pradesh. He was the first Indian to introduce `placental graft' technique for treatment of polio; and the first to develop `metallic guide' for the operation of Subtrochanteric Osteotomy and a guide for passing wire in Smith-Peterson nailing operation technique.
He was the first in India and among the very few in the world to perform `half Knee joint transplantation, the first in the country to conduct tibial osteotomy for osteoarthritis knee. He was one of the founders of Andhra Pradesh Chapter of Indian Orthopaedic Association. He was instrumental in getting the M.S. Orthopaedics course offered by Andhra Medical College recognised at Liverpool in the United Kingdom.
In 1948, he went to Car Nicobar Islands and treated innumerable patients, who were affected by the outbreak of a polio epidemic. In recognition of his good work, he was awarded the World Health Organisation fellowship for higher training in the United States in 1949. In 1954, he got an award at the Third International Polio Conference at Rome. In 1956, he became a Fellow of the International College of Surgeons and in 1965, he became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and Fellow of the National Academy of Medical Sciences.
He received his training from Dr. Mangalampalli Gopal Kini. The Rani of Chemudu Estate, Rani Chandramani Devi, used to take treatment from Dr. Kini for her backache. Dr. Kini shifted to Bombay. Chandramani Devi used to visit him in Bombay for her treatment. She appealed to him to set up a similar hospital in Visakhapatnam. Dr. Kini suggested to her that she could donate some of her land for construction of a hospital. He suggested the name of Dr. Vyaghreswarudu, who was doing extremely good work in the treatment of polio patients to establish the hospital.
Thus, the Rani Chandramani Devi (RCD) Government Hospital came into existence in 1965. The hospital grew from strength to strength under his direction. It attracted patients from far away Gujarat, Rajasthan and other parts of the country. Vyaghreswarudu started conducting free polio camps in different States for the benefit of patients.
He was the first Indian to write textbook "Principles and Practice of Orthopedics" in 1966.
He was instrumental in establishing the Andhra Medical College Old Students Association (AMCOSA) in association with Prof. P. Brahmayya Sastry in 1967.
Vyaghreswarudu retired from Government service in 1972, but continued to serve the poor polio patients through the various polio camps conducted in different parts of the country. Many philanthropists donated generously for organising these free camps.
Polio work
He started an `Operation Polio Project' and the `Satya Sai Polio Trust'. He had conducted over 300 polio camps, examined 1.5 lakh patients and conducted 30,000 operations, providing all the services free of cost.
His disciple, Dr.S.V. Adinarayana Rao, used to assist him at the free camps. During one such camps, in the early phase of his career, he asked his guru as to what he was getting out of the free services. Vyagreshwarudu smiled at him and looked at the patients who were benefited by his service. Looking at the gratitude in the eyes of the patients towards their `God', made him to realise that "No amount of money can give anyone so much satisfaction".