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Indian Journal of Orthopaedics logoLink to Indian Journal of Orthopaedics
. 2018 Mar-Apr;52(2):215. doi: 10.4103/ortho.IJOrtho_81_18

Legends of Indian Orthopedics: Pramod Karan Sethi

Bhavuk Garg 1,
PMCID: PMC5858221  PMID: 29576654

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Pramod Karan Sethi

(1927-2008)

Dr. P. K. Sethi was born on November 28, 1927 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. His father was a renowned scientist at Banaras Hindu University. He obtained his initial education in Agra and completed his graduation (MBBS) in 1949 from Sarojini Naidu Medical College, Agra. He attained his postgraduation (MS) in General Surgery in 1952 and completed his fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) in 1954.1,2

After completing his FRCS, he came back to India as lecturer in surgery at the SMS Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur. He created Orthopaedic Department and Rehabilitation Unit there and was quite instrumental in its development. He retired from this unit in 1982.1,2

He is famous nationally as well as internationally for developing “Jaipur Foot” which is a low cost, durable, flexible, waterproof prosthetic foot made up of readily available materials. It gave ease of walking to amputees on uneven terains and also to squat and sit cross legged. The International Red Cross Committee has also used it extensively in Afghanistan and other places to help amputees.1,2

He presented his work on “Jaipur Foot” first in Bangalore at the annual conference of Association of Surgeons of India. He presented his work in Oxford same year at British Orthopedic Association meeting and was appreciated widely. Later, he was conferred with various awards and medals including Western India Orthopedic Society Gold Medal, Ramon Magsaysay Award, Guinness Award for Scientific Achievement, R. D. Birla Award for Outstanding Medical Research, Knud Jensen Medal. He was also awarded Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1981. He was conferred with Dr. B. C. Roy National Award as Eminent Medical Man in 1989. He also delivered several prestigious orations and invited guest lectures nationally and internationally. Indian Orthopedic association felicitated him with life-time achievement award in 2004.1,2

He also worked toward developing lightweight calipers with carbon fiber composites, which was standardized by Defence Research and Development Organisation and Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, in 1994. This technology proved to be a boon for thousands of polio patients.1,2

He was an avid reader and used to spend 1–2 h daily in the Robert Heilig library of SMS Medical College, Jaipur. He was an excellent surgeon too and used to plan his cases very meticulously. He had a very versatile personality and was quite popular among his colleagues and students.1,2

He left for heavenly abode in the early hours of January 6, 2008.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

References


Articles from Indian Journal of Orthopaedics are provided here courtesy of Indian Orthopaedic Association

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