Coimbatore : A city hospital successfully treated a 171-kg morbidly obese man with a major spine problem. It was through a complex surgery, the hospital said.

The 40-year-old software professional working in Bengaluru, Getha Ramanan had consulted Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital (KMCH) earlier with suspicious lesions in lung and vertebra and was diagnosed as having TB.

He was advised surgery but was afraid of the risks.

However, he returned after a month with the complaints of inability to walk and inability to pass urine, a hospital statement said on Thursday.

There were many challenges in treating such a morbidly obese patient and  MRI scan too was difficult, it said.

The destroyed vertebral body was replaced by a titanium cage. The patient had a progressive recovery of leg power in the post-operative period and was sent home in a week. A team of doctors led by spine surgeon Sreedharan Namboothiri, conducted the surgery.