Symposium on “Recent advances in Low Back Pain

With the aim to sensitize the medical community on causes, prevalence and prevention of low back pain (LBP), Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care organized a symposium on “Recent Advances in LBP” at Nehru Hospital, PGIMER.

The symposium was inaugurated byChief guest, Prof. Jagat Ram, Director, PGI and guest of honourProf. Pramila Chari, Ex HOD, departemet of Anaesthesia, Prof. G.D.Puri, Sub dean Academics and HOD Anesthesiaand Dr Sanjeeva Gupta, with traditional lamp lighting. Prof Babita Ghai,consultant pain clinic PGI,welcomed visiting Professor Dr. Sanjeeva Gupta, Consultant in Pain Medicine and Anaesthesia, Bradford Hospital NHS Trust, UK. 

Prof. Babita Ghai emphasized on the importance of discussing LBP in current scenerio as LBP is the most leading cause of disbility worldwide including India.She briefed the delegates about Pain Management services at PGIMER. The pain clinic at present caters to a volume of 4000 pateints annually with 80-85% of these pateints being LBP pateints.

It was a multidisciplinary symposium and was attended byaround !50 delegates from Chandigarh, tricity, Tanda and Jodhpur of various specialty such as Anaesthesia, orthopedics, physical medicine, neurology, neurosurgery, community medicine, internal medicine, rheumatology etc. Symposium included sessions focussed on LBP prevalence and risk factors, basic algorithm of LBP management, recent advances and evidence based manegement of LBP. The highlight of the scientific program was self management and patient education about postures, excercises, and stressed on importance of being physically active. The symposium also focussed on ergonomics at work place and preventive strategies for back pain. 

The academic sessions were followed by vote of thanks by Prof. Babita Ghai.