DR. KARAM SINGH GREWAL
LEGEND
IN ORTHOPAEDIC WORLD
Dr. Karam Singh Garewal was born on 4th Feb. 1908
at village Rai Singh Wala in Erestwhile state of
Patiala. It was an ordinary peasant family of S. Uttam
Singh Smt. Dharam Kaur.
He had schooling in nearby town Bhiwanigarh
passed FSC from Mohindra College, Patiala in 1928.
He passed MBBS from KEM College in 1933,
Lahore standing first in all the major subjects.
Was best Medical Graduate in 1933 of Punjab
University Lahore. After housejob and
working as Astt. Demonstrator in Patholoogy.
He joined PCMS in 1935. He worked at
different places. Central Jail Multan; Mental
Hospital at Lahore; Isakhail in NWFP, Bhera in
Sargoda Distt. Ferozepur.
Had special training in Arogyawarm in
Trichnapli in Madras (Chinnai) in Tuberculosis.
He joined medical school (College) in 1941. As
lecturer in Anatomy with working in E.N.T.
He passed M.S in 1945.
He went to England 1947 under Colombo plan for training in
Orthopaedics. He worked in Royal National Orthopaedic
Hospital London and passed FRCS in 1948.
He returned in Feb. 1949 and established Orthopaedic
Department in Medical College, Amritsar the fifth one in
the country after Bombay, Madras, Calcutta and
Lucknow.
Within few year of establishment
the department became well known
in the country for patient care,
teaching and research. He trained
many young orthopaedic surgeons
who headed orthopaedic
department in different medical
colleges and hospitals in India and
abroad.
He became Professor in 1958 and retired from service in
1968.
Receiving scroll from Dr. Radha Krishnan as founder fellow of NAMS
He was appointed visiting professor of Orthopaedics in the
state of Jammu and Kashmir and continue till 1975.
Dr. N.D. Aggarwal, Dr. P.S. Grewal, Dr. M.L. Gupta, Dr.
P.S. Maini, Dr. Hardas Singh, Dr. Jasbir Kaur Keer, Dr.
S.M.Tuli, Dr. Rachhpal Singh Sandhu, Dr N.S.
Chaddha, Dr. R.S. Setia, Dr. S.K. Chhibbar, Dr. G.S.
Girgla, Dr. Gurdev Singh Purewal, Dr. Tejpal Singh, Dr.
Joginderpal Singh Chhina, Dr. Harbhajan Singh, Dr.
J.S. Bedi, Dr. Vijaypal Singh Sidhu, Dr. Baldev Singh,
Dr. R.S. Bawa.
Many other doctors work for their thesis under this guidance
M.G Nagia, Dr. Shumer Singh, Dr. VM Charnalia, Dr. Kuldip Singh
He was one of the three persons as driving force behind the creation
of Indian Orthopaedic Association which decision was taken in his
drawing room in Dec. 1955 and was its president in 1959-60.
He presented many papers at national conferences (atleast one paper
in each conference) and international conference (NROM and
Syndrome, Singapore, Kaulalumpar). He published many papers in
national and international journals.
• His original contributions to orthopaedic literature are:
• Amritsar approach to the hip joint (it is posterolateral
approach). He used to call this approach as Anatomical
approach.
• Etiology of Volkman’s Ischaemic Contracture (He
produced Volman’s ischaemia by ligating the veins
producing venous obstruction). This contradictory the
theory of arterial obstruction being the etiology of VIC.
• Split tibialis anterior tendon transfer in relapsed club
foot.
• He was an excellent teacher, very good clinician
(dignostician), operator, could with both hands equally
efficiently.
• He was a multifaceted personality.
• He was plant lover, established Punjab Horticulture
Society of which he was found President.
• He was very good marksman.
• He was voracions read had more than 100 book in his
library.
• He was a very good chess player.
• He was blessed with 8 daughters and one son.
• He passed away on 6th Jan. 1976 at the 68 years.
Dr. Karam Singh Memorial Oration is
delivered every year in the Annual
Conference of NZIO
Dr. Karam Singh Commemoration Lecture
is delivered annually at the Annual
Conference of IOA
Thank you