ABBOTTABAD: The orthopedic department of the Ayub Teaching Hospital has started surgeries through arthroscopy for the first time. In this respect, arthroscopy of a woman patient was carried out successfully and it was announced that the f acility was of fered to patients free of cost.

A two-member team of doctors comprising Dr Mohammad Adeel Mishwani and Dr Alamzeb Khan conducted the arthroscopy of knee joint and removed a loose body from OA successfully Af ter the surgery, Dr Mishwani said the knee arthroscopy was a surgical procedure that allowed doctors to view the knee joint without making a large incision (cut) through the skin and other soft tissues. Arthroscopy is used to diagnose and treat a wide range of knee problems.

During knee arthroscopy, surgeon inserts a small camera, called an arthroscopy, into knee joint. The camera displays pictures on a video monitor and the surgeon uses these images to guide miniature surgical instruments.

Because the arthroscopy and surgicalinstruments are thin, a surgeon can use very small incisions, rather than the larger incision needed for open surgery.

This results in less pain for patients, less joint stiffness, and often shortens the time it takes to recover and return to favourite activities.

The procedure has been done on a poor woman named, Badri Bibi, who is recovering f ast.

Earlier, the patients had to go to Lahore and Rawalpindi where the treatment was expensive and the poor patients had to bear the travelling and accommodation cost as well.

Talking to mediapersons, Dr Alamzeb, in-charge of Orthopedics B unit, said starting the facility in the ATH meant that a huge catchment area spanning from AJK, GB, Hazara, Kohistan, adjacent areas of Swat up to Hassan Abdal would be covered.

The arthroscopy at Ayub Teaching Hospital will be a blessing for the people of the region, he said.

PDF DISSOCIATES FROM STRIKE: People`s Doctors Forum (PDF) does not support the strike the Young Doctors Association has been observing in AyubTeaching Hospital for last 10 days which has not only affected the patients care, but also damaged the credibility of doctors`community.

This was stated by a PDF spokesman af ter a meeting of the forum the other daychaired by its president Prof Nisar Khan.

About the biometric attendance in the hospital, the PDF spokesman said they would start a dialogue with the government as well as the hospital`s board of governors after consulting the doctors.