Faculty

Dr. Sharat Agarwal
Professor& HOD
MS Orthopedics (AIIMS, New Delhi), MCh Orthopedics & Trauma (University of Edinburgh, UK), Fellow Foot & Ankle (Japan), Fellow Pediatric Orthopedic (CMC Vellore) & USA (Texas), ACME (Wardha, India), PG Diploma HPE (Wardha, India), PG Diploma Rheumatology (South America), PG Diploma Rheumatology (South America), Fellowship Ortho. Rehabilitation (India), Fellowship Trauma & Pediatric lower limb trauma (India)
Gold Medalists

• Dr. Mrinmoy Das
• Dr. Shanborlang Siangshai

Introduction

The Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma started with joining of Dr. Bhaskar Borgohain and Dr. Sharat Agarwal as Assistant Professors in 2006-07. The department strives to provide comprehensive orthopaedic services for patients and quality training & teaching for students and resident doctors. The Department of Orthopaedics endeavours to provide environment, inspiration and excellent training opportunities in the field of musculoskeletal disorders. This includes exposure and discussion on a variety of clinical problems in orthopaedic residents in terms of diagnostic, didactic & analytical aspects and development of surgical skills in adult reconstruction (Arthroplasty), Arthroscopy, fractures and dislocations, spine surgery, pediatric orthopaedics, polytrauma, hand surgery & medical disaster management, rehabilitation and related fields. Our team is committed to quality & accountability. The Union Ministry has given permission to start MS Orthopaedics vide letter No. F.No. U-12012/04/2020-ME dated 29/9/2022. MS Orthopedic (PG) admission started in 2023. 1st Batch of MS Orthopedic PGs successfully passed the examination in 2026.

The department runs Subspeciality Clinics:1. Sports Injury and Arthroscopic Clinic (SIAC) (ii) Paediatric Orthopaedics Clinic AND (iii) Arthroplasty Clinic (iv) Spine Clinic (v) Fracture Clinic

Bilateral Total Knee replacement done for advanced painful Osteoarthritis in 75 year old gentleman from Manipur. (Year 2014) 

55 year old gentleman from Nagaland had THR done for OA (Lt) hip

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: Scoliosis Deformity Corrective Surgery

Arthroscopic ACL Reconstruction

Infrastructure

• Operating Microscope
• Arthroscope with HD Camera & Monitor
• C-Arm
• Fracture Table
• Instruments for Joint Replacement, Spine Surgery
• High speed Burr systems
• Pneumatic Torniquet
• Lithium Battery -Drill & Saw systems

Services

Patient Services

In addition to emergency Orthopaedics and General Orthopaedics, the department provides surgeries/services in various fields that include State of the Art surgeries like:

1. Spine surgeries: Microscopic discectomy & Decompression, Endoscopic spine Procedures, Spinal Stabilization - Pedicular screw fixation, Scoliosis Deformity corrective surgeries, Spine fusion surgeries - TLIF/PLIF etc.
2. Sports injury & Arthroscopic surgeries (including ACLRs & PCLR)
3. Total hip and Total knee replacement
4. Minimally invasive fracture fixation (MIPO)
5. Image guided surgeries / Growth modulation, etc.
6. Ilizarov ring fixation for difficult non-unions, limb lengthening & deformity correction
7. Corrective Osteotomies for bone disorders.
8. Treatment of complex Trauma.

These surgeries are being performed successfully and with commendably low infection rates.

Many of these surgeries are first of its kind in the state of Meghalaya and some of these are performed even for the very first time in the entire North-East India.

The following services are also provided in the OPD:

• Fracture Clinic: All working days except on Central Govt. holidays
• Plaster Room: All working days except on Central Govt. holidays
• Minor O.T: All working days except on Central Govt. holidays

1. Paediatric Orthopaedic Clinic – Head: Prof. Sharat Agarwal, HoD
2. Arthroplasty Clinic – Head: Prof. Sharat Agarwal, HoD
3. Sports Injury Clinic – Head: Dr. Tashi G Khonglah
4. Spine Clinic – Head: Dr. Sachlang Debbarma
5. Fracture Clinic – Head: Dr. Dinendra Chirom

Academic Activities

• Teaching of MS Orthopedics PG students
• Teaching of MBBS students
• Teaching B.Sc. Nursing students
• Training of Resident Doctors
• Thesis guidance to PG students of Orthopedics & various other departments
• Training of Interns of MBBS & B.Sc. Nursing students
• Training of M.Sc. Nursing students
• Periodic Orthopaedic–Radiology / Inter departmental conferences and patient related academic discussions
• Regular Seminars / Journal Clubs / Audit meetings / Cases presentations / Clinical grand rounds etc.

Conference held by the department:

• Cadaveric Spine workshop organised by the Dept. of Orthopaedics & Trauma, NEIGRIHMS during 39th Northeast Orthopaedic Surgeons Conference (NEOSCON) held on 6th and 7th of March, 2026 at Shillong, Meghalaya
• Northeast Educational Workshop on Spine – CME. Organised by the Dept. of Orthopaedics & Trauma, NEIGRIHMS and Orthopaedics Society of Shillong 18th October, 2024
• State Level CME on Advances in Management of Tuberculosis (Pulmonary and Extra Pulmonary) at NEIGRIHMS with State Tuberculosis Cell, World Health Organization and Indian Medical Association (IMA), 27th August, 2022
• Northeast Regional Workshop on “Research methodology and scientific publication” with Indian Journal of Orthopaedics and NILG Kolkata, February 22, 2020
• Regional workshops on advanced arthroscopy for sports injuries, September 26, 2018
• AO Pre-Basic extraordinary Course on Operative fracture care principles September 28, 2018
• Workshop and hands on training on suture skills September 28, 2018
• CME cum workshop on Joint disorder Arthritis and tissue engineering (ADNAT Satellite Symposia) February 2, 2018
• DBT- Symposia on Research Methodology and Biomaterials for Human applications for clinical translational research on 20th & 21st March, 2015
• CRE (Continuing Rehabilitation Education) workshop on Rehabilitation and Inclusive development September 29, 2014
• IORACON-2011: the 3rd National Annual Conference of Indian Orthopaedic Rheumatology Association, April 2011
• 21st National conference on social orthopaedics 2011
• 1st Liver Surgery session on Clubfoot: 24th annual conference of the north-east regional orthopaedic surgeons’ association (NEROSA), 2011
• POSI-POSNA Paediatric fracture course: 2009

Recent Publications from the department:

Prof. (Dr.) Sharat Agarwal:

1. S. Agarwal, Shadap Cleopatra K, Lyngdoh Wihiwot V. Prevalence of Chikungunya Infection Activity in Tura, Meghalaya: A Cross-Sectional Study. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR). Volume 7, Issue 2, March-April 2025.
2. S. Agarwal, Cleopatra K Shadap. A study from a Tertiary Health Centre on prevalence of Chikungunya Infection in the North-Eastern Region, India. Int. j. adv. multidisc. res. stud. 2025; 5(2):1062-1063.
3. S. Agarwal, Penthungo Ezung, Baishali Dey. A unique case of open radiocarpal fracture-dislocation defying classification norms. Gal Int J Health Sci Res. 2025; 10(1): 87-93.
4. C. Harris; H. Nadon; B. Wankhar; D. Lynser; B. Lyngdoh; R. Toi, Borgohain B; S. Agarwal; T.G. Khonglah, V. Jagtap; P. Devi Laishram. Musculoskeletal tumors presenting to an oncology multidisciplinary team in Northeast India. Indian Journal of Cancer 62(2): p 190-194, Apr–Jun 2025.
5. S. DebBarma, C. Sharma, N Modi, T. Khonglah, B. Borgohain, S. Agarwal. Retention or Retrieval: A dilemma in a case of Paediatric Cervical Spine Penetrating Injury from an Air Gun Pellet is accepted for publication in Journal of Orthopaedic Case Report (Pubmed) JOCR. Ahead of Print (Mar 2026 Issue).
6. S. Agarwal. Article in the 2nd Indian Foot & Ankle Society (IFAS) newsletter entitled “Problems & Challenges of Podiatry in northeast India” in 02 Issue; April 2025.
7. Chapter on ‘Hallux valgus rigidus’ in book entitled ‘Clinical Cases in Foot and Ankle Surgery’ (Vol 1) by Salubris Publishers (August 2025).
8. Debbarma S, Sharma C, Baishya A, Khonglah T.G, Borgohain B, Agarwal S. Chronic Irreducible C1 C2 Rotatory Subluxation Presenting as Painful Torti collis in a Child Managed with Posterior Lateral Mass Fixation: A Case Report. Journal of Orthopaedic Case Reports 2026 April; 16(04):119-122.

Dr. Tashi G Khonglah, Additional Professor:

1. Khonglah TG, Sharma C, Agarwal S, Borgohain B, Ezung P. Minimally Invasive Reconstruction of Traumatic Segmental Femoral Bone Loss Using a Non-Vascularised Ipsilateral Fibular Graft in a Three-Year-Old Child: A Case Report. Cureus. 2026 May 28;18(5):e109818. doi: 10.7759/cureus.109818. PMID: 42367498; PMCID: PMC13310126.
2. Debbarma S, Sharma C, Baishya A, Khonglah TG, Borgohain B, Agarwal S. Chronic Irreducible C1–C2 Rotatory Subluxation Presenting as Painful Torticollis in a Child Managed with Posterior Lateral Mass Fixation: A Case Report. J Orthop Case Rep. 2026 Apr;16(04):119-122. doi:10.13107/jocr.2026.v16.i04.7060.
3. Borgohain B, Sharma C, Khonglah TG, DebBarma S, Naveen AS, Nongbet D. Cortical Window Osteotomy for Diagnostic Biopsy in Iliac Osteomyelitis: A Case Report and Technical Note. J Orthop Case Rep. 2026 Jun;16(06):513-518. doi: 10.13107/jocr.2026.v16.i06.7528.
4. Borgohain B, Naveen AS, Khonglah TG. Fat Embolism Syndrome: A Case Series from a Single Tertiary Care Hospital. J Orthop Case Rep. 2026 Jun;16(06):182-188. doi:10.13107/jocr.2026.v16.i06.7418.
5. Sharma C, Baishya A, Khonglah TG, Laskor MH, DebBarma S, Agarwal S. Generalized Tetanus Following Traditional Manipulation of an Open Supracondylar Humerus Fracture in a Child: A Rare Case Report. J Orthop Case Rep. 2026 Aug;16(08):170-173. doi:10.13107/jocr.2026.v16.i08.7830.
6. Borgohain B, Debbarma S, Khonglah TG, Sharma C, Ezung P, Lyngdoh N. Disability Certification Under the Rights of Persons With Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 in Northeast India: An Institutional Analysis of Trends, Service Utilization, and Trauma-Related Locomotor Disability Burden. Cureus. 2026 Jun 9;18(6):e110545. doi: 10.7759/cureus.110545. PMID: 42428222; PMCID: PMC13349364.
7. Dympep B, Sharma C, Khonglah TG, Borgohain B. Chronic Implant-Associated Osteomyelitis of the Distal Humerus: A Case Report of Latissimus Dorsi Pedicled Flap Reconstruction. Cureus. 2026 Aug 12;18(8):e114417. doi: 10.7759/cureus.114417. PMID: 42729931; PMCID: PMC13564304.

Dr. Sachlang Debbarma, Associate Professor

1. Borgohain B, Debbarma S, Khonglah TG, Sharma C, Ezung P, Lyngdoh N. Disability Certification Under the Rights of Persons With Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 in Northeast India: An Institutional Analysis of Trends, Service Utilization, and Trauma-Related Locomotor Disability Burden. Cureus. 2026 Jun 9;18(6):e110545. doi: 10.7759/cureus.110545. PMID: 42428222; PMCID: PMC13349364.
2. Debbarma S, Sharma C, Baishya A, Khonglah TG, Borgohain B, Agarwal S. Chronic Irreducible C1–C2 Rotatory Subluxation Presenting as Painful Torticollis in a Child Managed with Posterior Lateral Mass Fixation: A Case Report. Journal of Orthopaedic Case Reports 2026 April;16(04): 119-122.
3. Sharma C, Bhaskar B, Dey B, Khonglah TG, DebBarma S. Double Whammy: Rare in-Tandem Impalement Injuries to Ipsilateral Knee and Ankle in a Rural Farmer - A Case Report. J Orthop Case Rep. 2026 Mar;16(3):93-98. doi: 10.13107/jocr.2026.v16.i03.6900. PMID: 41815652; PMCID: PMC12973202.
4. DebBarma S, Sharma C, Modi N, Khonglah TG, Borgohain B, Agarwal S. Retention or Retrieval: A dilemma in a Case of Pediatric Cervical Spine Penetrating Injury from an Air Gun Pellet. J Orthop Case Rep. 2026 Mar;16(3):74-77. doi: 10.13107/jocr.2026.v16.i03.6892. PMID: 41815678; PMCID: PMC12973039.
5. C. Sharma, Borgohain, Khonglah Tashi, S. Debbarma, Naveen, S. (2026). Solitary Osteochondroma of the Calcaneum: A Rare Case Report. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANATOMY RADIOLOGY AND SURGERY. 10.7860/IJARS/2026/84968.3081.

Department Schedule

Specialty Clinics

Physiotherapy Unit (Room 900 (Minus one floor))

• Mrs. Mamuniya Thangkhiew, MPT, Suptdt. Physiotherapist
• Mrs. Jaya Prashant Darjee, MPT, Physiotherapist
• Mr. B. Bidhan Chandra Sharma, MPT, Physiotherapist
• Mrs. Sanasham Sulakshana Devi, BPT, Physiotherapist
• Mrs. Dawanhun Dkhar, BPT, Physiotherapist
• Mr. P. Rajith, MPT, Physiotherapist
• Ms. Clarionda Mukhim, MPT, Pediatrics

The Physiotherapy facility is taking care of both in-patients as well as out-patients. Physiotherapy services are also provided on call to all departments of the hospital. There is modern physiotherapy facility in the basement minus one floor, Room No. 900 with latest-equipments to provide timely interventions and rehabilitation.

Occupational Therapy (Room No. 2, Orthopaedics OPD)

Sr. Occupational Therapist: Shri. Nebanshan Lyngdoh, M.O.T;  Mr. Aswini Baljogi, Mr. Reggie .A. Nongsiej

Occupational Therapy provides healthcare rehabilitation services to patients with physical/mental dysfunctions or disability with the aim to achieve functional independence, alleviate pain and helping the patients earn a good quality of life. Occupational Therapist specializes in the upper extremity rehabilitation, loss of motor and cognitive function, orthopaedics and neurological conditions, paediatrics cases includes differently abled individuals for optimum rehabilitation.

Prosthetic Orthotic Workshop:

Prosthetist-Orthotist: Shri B. Marbaniang, BPO

Location: 2-Level of ‘B’ Wing Circular Block

The Artificial Limb Centre was set up in the month of June 2010 under the PMK scheme of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India, and is under the local out of the Department of Orthopaedics & Trauma, NEIGRIHMS. Various rehabilitation devices like artificial limbs for both upper & lower extremities (ALIMCO components) for upper and lower limb amputation, splints for hand, fingers and foot for nerve injuries, neurological disorders, calipers and braces for spinal deformities, lower limb deformities, shortening, fractures etc are fabricated in the unit.

Orientation Classes are also taken by the unit for B Sc Nursing and MBBS students of the Institute.

Dedicated Plaster Room is functional

Plaster Technician: Shri Sanjay Kumar Ray

The unit was started since the inception of the Department of Orthopaedics in the year 2007. It is involved in the supporting role for the treatment of various fractures and Diseases due to trauma and other secondary causes. The following procedures are done on a daily basis in the OPD, casualty and indoor under the supervision of the Faculty and Senior Residents.

Counselling for Plaster Care:

Plaster of Paris casts

Instruction for Resident Doctors

1. Handle fresh cast carefully (first 48 hours)
2. Indentations may cause pressure points under the cast
3. Handle the cast with open palms of hands
4. Do not apply pressure to the cast
5. Do not cover the cast – allow it to air dry

Teach patient

1. Keep cast dry and intact
2. To avoid placing any objects inside of or through cast
3. Describe indications and therapeutic use of casting for immobilization
4. Proper use of assistive devices
5. How to assess environment for potential mobility hazards
6. To inspect cast daily for foul odors, cracks
7. Limb elevation right after cast application

Instruction for Patients on Plaster

1. Keep cast dry and intact
2. To avoid placing any objects inside of or through cast
3. Describe indications and therapeutic use of casting for immobilization
4. Proper use of assistive devices
5. How to assess environment for potential mobility hazards
6. To inspect cast daily for foul odor, cracks
7. Limb Elevation right after cast application

ORTHOPAEDICS – RECENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

Funded Project (Ongoing)

Completed Funded Project

Departmental Projects (Including Thesis/Dissertations)

Completed

Collaborative Projects

Ongoing

1. A community-based study on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), Functional Status and Morbidity profile among elderly persons living in Rural setting of Meghalaya (ICMR)
2. Feasibility and acceptability of shared medical appointment (SMA) in the management of patient with low back pain in the outpatient department setting
3. Identification of Non-Tubercular Mycobacteria (NTM) Species identification for capacity building in the NE Region. (DBT)
4. School of Innovations in Biomedical Devices and Systems and Inter Institutional Biodesign Center (SIBDS-IIBC) IIT, Guwahati

Completed

1. Thesis: Femoral and Tibial tunnel positioning in arthroscopic anatomical Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction – Clinical versus Radiological comparison (Guide: Prof. B. Borgohain, PG- Dr. Naveen AS): Thesis complete & Submitted
2. Thesis: Evaluating the functional outcome of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is the treatment of plantar fasciitis at a tertiary teaching hospital in the northeast India by M.S (Orthopedic) postgraduate student. (Guide: Prof. S. Agarwal, PG-Dr. Baishali Dey): Thesis complete & Submitted
3. A community-based study on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), Functional Status and Morbidity profile among elderly persons living in Rural setting of Meghalaya (ICMR)
4. Biomechanical Foot wear Insole therapy to improve the symptoms of Osteoarthritis (OA) of the Knee joint: Prospective study from a tertiary care center in the Northeast India (IIT, Guwahati)
5. Collection Gait and Electromyography (EMG) data of physician referred patients (Multi-centric; between NEIGRIHMS and IIT, Guwahati)
6. Osteoarthritis Knee & Platelet rich plasma use-Evidence from Northeast India (Blood Bank, NEIGRIHMS, Shillong)
7. An observational analytical prospective study on the host factors with persistent arthritis in Chikungunya patients and molecular epidemiology of CHIKV in north east” in collaboration with National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune

Vision:

To become a Role Model and a Regional Referral Centre of Orthopaedics, especially in the field of Joint Replacement, Sports injury, Trauma & management spine disorders and Paediatric Orthopaedics with excellence in patient care, education and Orthopaedic research.

Mission:

Provide high quality and affordable Orthopaedic services

Future Plan:

• Development of Online Orthopaedic epidemiology database cum atlas (OeDT).
• Develop Regional Bone Bank Facility.
• Start Postdoctoral Teaching Courses.
• Starting Robotic Orthopaedic Surgery.