Director-principal of the college Prof Raj Bahadur said the hospital is ready to go ahead with the pioneering technique.

The decision follows a demonstration of the technique by UK-based experts to a group of doctors at the GMCH a few days ago.

GMCH was the third hospital in the country to be visited by the UK team, led by Dr Anand Aggarwal.

“Conventionally, we recommend bed rest of three to six weeks for someone who has sustained a fracture in the spine. This is followed by the use of a supporting belt and gradual mobility. However, under this method the patient is at risk of developing kyphotic deformity (hunchback) after a few years,” said Bahadur.

Under the new technique, not only is the late onset of hunchback taken care of but the procedure is completed in just half an hour, added the doctor.

As against the mandatory long bed rest required under the conventional method, after kyphoplasty the patient can go back to work after resting for a couple of days.

Given its minimal incision and the early recovery period, doctors feel the technique will be quite useful for the elderly.