GBP Hospital in Agartala successfully performed a rare bone tumour surgery on a 33-year-old woman from Tripura, removing an aggressive giant cell tumour and reconstructing her tibia with a megaprosthesis. The entire treatment was provided free under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY.
Doctors at Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) Hospital in Agartala have successfully performed a rare and complex bone tumour surgery on a 33-year-old woman from Karbook in Gomati district, Tripura. The three-hour operation involved removing an aggressive giant cell tumour from her left knee and replacing the affected portion of her tibia with a specialised megaprosthesis. The entire treatment was provided free of cost under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).
According to a government press release issued on October 29, the patient, identified as Shefali Tripura, wife of Burbaru Tripura, had been bedridden for nearly a year due to the tumour. Medical examinations revealed that she was suffering from an aggressive giant cell tumour (GCT) affecting her left knee, requiring specialised surgical intervention and bone reconstruction.
Before reaching GBP Hospital, Shefali underwent preliminary examinations at Tripura Medical College in Hapania. She subsequently visited the Atal Bihari Regional Cancer Centre for further evaluation. Following medical assessment, she was referred 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 investigations. Considering the complexity of the condition, doctors planned an extensive surgical procedure to remove the tumour and reconstruct the damaged portion of the tibia. The operation also required special approval from the concerned government department before proceeding.
The surgical procedure was performed on October 15 and lasted approximately three hours. During the operation, doctors successfully removed a giant cell tumour measuring 10 × 8 cm from the patient’s left knee region. Following tumour removal, the affected portion of the tibia was reconstructed using a megaprosthesis, a specialised implant designed to replace extensively damaged or removed bone.
Joint replacement surgeon Dr. Sayantan Saha led the surgical team, assisted by Dr. Swarup Sarkar. Dr. Anupam Debnath, Dr. Dipen Roy and Dr. Abhishek Majumder also participated in the operation.
The anaesthesia team comprised Dr. Bhaskar Majumder, Dr. Indrajit Das and Dr. Joydeep Debnath. Operating theatre nurses and other supporting staff also played an important role in completing the complex procedure.
The hospital described this type of surgery as a rare medical intervention in Tripura. Patients requiring similar specialised bone tumour operations are often referred to major cities and advanced medical institutions, including Tata hospitals, for treatment.
The estimated cost of such an operation at a private hospital could range between Rs. 5 lakh and Rs. 6 lakh, according to the government press release. However, Shefali received the entire surgical treatment free of cost under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, significantly reducing the financial burden on her family.
Following the successful operation, the patient remained under medical supervision while doctors monitored her recovery. Her condition improved satisfactorily, and she was discharged from GBP Hospital on October 21, 2026.
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The successful surgery highlights the growing capabilities of GBP Hospital and its medical teams in handling complicated surgical cases within Tripura. It also demonstrates the importance of government-supported healthcare schemes such as Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY in helping economically vulnerable patients access specialised medical treatment without facing substantial financial difficulties.
The case marks an important achievement for the hospital’s Joint Replacement Department, offering renewed hope to patients requiring advanced orthopaedic and bone tumour treatment within the state.
