First-ever Knee Cancer surgery performed in Karachi

KARACHI: Doctors at Jinnah Hospital, Karachi, have successfully performed the hospital’s first knee cancer surgery, restoring mobility to a 26-year-old patient through the implantation of an artificial knee.

One of the surgeons, Dr. Farukh, stated that the patient had been diagnosed with cancer in his knee and lower leg. The challenging, four-hour-long surgery was performed by a combined team of orthopedic and plastic surgeons, in which the tumor was excised and a prosthetic knee was implanted.

Post-operative tests, conducted after the operation, identified the elimination of cancer in its entirety. Dr. Farukh further added that the artificial knee, worth between Rs1 million and Rs1.1 million, was given free of expense by the hospital. In the world, such implants work well for 20–25 years, providing long-term mobility. The total operation, worth some Rs3.5 million, was performed absolutely free of cost.
The orthopedic staff consisted of Dr. Farukh, Dr. Muzaffar, Dr. Wali, Dr. Shahid, and Dr. Khushal, while the plastic surgery staff consisted of Dr. Agha Waseem, Dr. Mehak, Dr. Komal, and Dr. Farooq.

Pakistan Works on Breast Cancer Vaccine

In addition, Pakistan has succeeded in another healthcare breakthrough with the creation of a vaccine for breast cancer. The Institute of Public Health Punjab has developed the vaccine, with talks on hand for mass production of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja hailed the move, saying that the provincial government is putting a priority on healthcare development. Medical expert Prof. Dr. Javed Akram clarified that giving three doses of the vaccine to girls 12 years old would provide lifelong protection against breast cancer, a huge leap towards women’s health.