A 33-year-old woman from Karbook in Gomati District of Tripura underwent a three-hour surgery at GBP Hospital on October 15, 2026, to remove an aggressive giant cell tumour from her left knee and replace the affected tibia with a megaprosthesis, with the entire procedure covered under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY.
Key Takeaways:
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GBP Hospital surgeons successfully removed a 10 × 8 cm aggressive giant cell tumour from a 33-year-old woman’s left knee.
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The three-hour operation included a tibial megaprosthesis replacement and was performed free of cost under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY.
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The patient, who had been bedridden for a year, was discharged on October 21, 2026, after recovering from surgery.
The hospital performed the three-hour procedure entirely free of cost under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).
The patient, Shefali Tripura, wife of Burbaru Tripura, hails from Karbook. She had remained bedridden for a year because of the tumour. Doctors diagnosed the condition as an aggressive giant cell tumour (GCT) affecting her left knee.
Patient Referred to GBP Hospital for Treatment
Shefali initially underwent preliminary examinations at Tripura Medical College in Hapania.
She later visited the Atal Bihari Regional Cancer Centre for further evaluation. Doctors subsequently referred her to Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and GBP Hospital for specialised treatment.
The Joint Replacement Department of GBP Hospital admitted her on October 10, 2026, after completing the necessary diagnostic assessment.
The medical team planned a complex procedure to remove the tumour and reconstruct the affected part of the tibia. The surgery required special approval from the concerned government department before the team could proceed.
Three-Hour Operation Removes 10 × 8 cm Tumour
The surgical team operated on the patient on October 15, 2026. The procedure lasted around three hours.
Doctors removed a tumour measuring 10 × 8 cm from the affected area. They then replaced the affected tibia with a megaprosthesis, a specialised implant used to reconstruct bone affected by extensive damage or tumour removal.
The operation was successful, according to a government press release issued on October 29. The patient subsequently began recovering under medical supervision.
The procedure addressed a complex condition that had left the woman bedridden for nearly a year. Her treatment involved both tumour removal and major reconstruction of the affected bone.
Joint Replacement and Anaesthesia Teams Conduct Surgery
Joint replacement surgeon Dr Sayantan Saha led the surgical team. Dr Swarup Sarkar worked alongside him during the operation.
Dr Anupam Debnath, Dr Dipen Roy and Dr Abhishek Majumder also participated in the procedure.
The anaesthesia team included Dr Bhaskar Majumder, Dr Indrajit Das and Dr Joydeep Debnath. Operating theatre nurses and assistants also supported the operation.
The coordinated efforts of the surgical, anaesthesia and operating theatre teams helped complete the lengthy procedure successfully.
Rare Procedure Could Cost Rs 5–6 Lakh Privately
The hospital described this type of surgery as rare in Tripura. Patients who require similar procedures are generally referred to major cities or specialised institutions, including Tata hospitals, for treatment.
The press release estimated that the operation could cost between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 6 lakh at a private hospital. Such expenses can place a substantial financial burden on patients requiring complex bone tumour surgery and reconstruction.
In Shefali’s case, the hospital performed the entire procedure free of cost under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY. The treatment allowed her to undergo the specialised operation without paying the estimated private-hospital cost.
Patient Discharged After Recovery
Following the surgery, doctors monitored Shefali’s condition and kept her under observation until she became stable.
The hospital discharged her on October 21, 2026, after her recovery progressed satisfactorily. A Government press release informed the media on October 29.
The successful operation demonstrates the hospital team’s capacity to manage a rare and complex bone tumour case within Tripura, reducing the need for this patient to travel outside the state for the procedure.
