Dr Ram Chidambaram, along with Top Global Shoulder Experts, Prof Stefan Greiner from Germany and Prof Stefano Gumina from Italy, launched a revolutionary technology for Shoulder Replacement surgery using Modular glenoid system with VIP (Virtual Implant Positioning) and Mixed Reality Navigation with HoloLens. Dr Ram Chidambaram performed the first live surgery demonstration of VIP shoulder in March 2024, and the first Mixed Reality guided shoulder replacement using HoloLens in India in May 2023.
These innovations were highlighted with re-live demonstrations of reverse shoulder surgery performed using Arthrex VIP system with MR navigation and HoloLens in CULTCON 2024.
CULTCON stands for Chennai Upper Limb Unit Teaching Convention. Featuring expert talks, panel discussions and live demonstrations by 2 international and 25 national faculty, the conference aims to teach and train general orthopaedic surgeons and post graduate residents in the specialised field of shoulder and upper limb surgery, a novel concept in India. With over 400 orthopaedic surgeons from all over the country in attendance, it is evident that CULTCON is taking place at the right time.
Chennai Upper Limb Unit is a dedicated specialist centre in Alwarpet that exclusively caters to patients with problems affecting the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand. Inaugurated this year by Dr Radhakrishnan IAS, it is the first of its kind in India, offering treatment for all kinds of upper limb trauma, sports injuries and joint replacement. The patient’s well-being is at the core of Chennai Upper Limb Unit’s philosophy, a trait that is reflected in the
clinic’s state-of-the-art equipment and physiotherapy services.
Dr Ram Chidambaram, founding director of the Chennai Upper Limb Unit, is a senior consultant shoulder & upper limb surgeon with over 30 years of experience in India and the UK. In 2011, he left behind a flourishing orthopaedic practice in the UK’s National Health Service and settled in Chennai. He developed an exclusive practice in sports medicine and treating upper limb ailments and is now regarded as one of the best shoulder and upper
limb surgeons in Asia. He has performed over 4,500 keyhole surgeries, 1,100 joint replacements and 3,500 upper limb trauma surgeries. He served as the president of Shoulder and Elbow Society, India for 4 consecutive years, from 2017 to 2021.
Dr Ram has a passion for reverse shoulder arthroplasty, a unique and novel procedure where the ball is replaced with a prosthetic socket and vice versa. He is credited with performing the first reverse shoulder replacement in South India in 2011, and the first stemless shoulder in 2012.
Regarding the Arthrex VIP system, Dr Ram says ‘Shoulder replacement surgery is a procedure to ease pain and regain function in people with severe shoulder joint issues like arthritis or fracture. Traditional methods sometimes struggle with precise implant placement. This new system is a game-changer designed to tackle these issues, customising the implant according to the patient’s unique anatomy.’
Regarding the new HoloLens technology, Dr Ram says ‘We use AI to process information from the patient’s CT scans to identify the best possible placement for the glenoid peg and screws. I wear the HoloLens during surgery, take references from bone points, and project the 3D hologram on patients in real time during the operation. This helps to further heighten the accuracy and precision of my surgery.’
With robust implant placement, smaller incisions and far less tissue damage, patients operated with this technology can make a much faster recovery. In fact, they don’t even need a sling! Patients can start moving their arm the very next day after the operation.
Dr Ram has also made it his mission to improve public perception of upper limb injuries and encourage the right way to seek treatment. The Chennai Upper Limb Unit is proud to launch its newest feature – a 24-hour helpline that allows prospective patients to call in and learn more about their conditions and seek second opinions, in addition to booking appointments and scheduling surgeries. He wishes to provide the best service possible to every patient that seeks his care, and through his teaching initiatives and clinical milestones, he hopes to inspire others to do the same.
