title: Indian foot and ankle scenario.
abstract: Huge population of aggressively developing country like India is catered by more than 20,000 orthopedic surgeons but with very few dedicated foot & ankle surgeons. This area of orthopedics has not yet established its place as a specialty of medicine. Most of newer treatment concepts & methodologies are yet to establish its place in India in spite of huge suffering population. Challenges are late presentations, delayed diagnosis, neglected cases, malunions, complex deformities & diabetic foot issues. Commonly seen forefoot, midfoot & hindfoot problems in India & their routine care is discussed. Article also addresses very tough but interesting journey of first foot & ankle surgeon of India & story of rise & fall of first Indian foot & ankle centre of excellence. Contribution in form of educational efforts & deep market penetration is deemed from west to uplift Indian foot & ankle scenario which is summed up as: lack of awareness, opportunity and negligence.
authors.affiliation: Global Baroda Foot & Ankle Centre. rajivortho@gmail.com
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003906:Developing Countries; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000628:therapy; D005530:Foot Deformities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000193:education; D010820:Physicians