More women than men undergo knee replacement operations, with the ratio of eight to one, says Dr Khalid Saleem Aslam, an orthopedic surgeon.

But this situation can change, according to Dr Aslam, if women take care of two things – exercise and a balanced diet throughout life. “I understand women are usually neglected, and boys are given better diet than girls. But it's vital for women to take care of their diet and also take enough calcium.”

Exercise for women should be a must of part of their lives, says the surgeon. “At least half an hour's exercise is a must on a daily basis. Even when women have osteoporosis they must exercise as much as possible.”

After doing MBBS from Dow Medical College, Karachi, in 1975, Dr Aslam worked in a civil hospital for house job in surgery and medicine. After working for several years in Pakistan, he flew to New York. There he worked for 15 months at the Bronx Lebanon Hospital. He got residency appointment in Missouri, Kansas City, where he worked four years and learnt all he could in his chosen field. In 1994 he came back to Pakistan and joined Shifa Hospital, Islamabad. Since then, he has remained here having completed over 1,000 knee replacement operations and over 1,300 other operations.

One of his patients, 84, regularly climbs up to the roof of his house every year on August 14 to raise the Pakistan flag! When told about the old man and the flag hoisting, a humble Dr Aslam thanks the Almighty, and also adds: “Eighty per cent of success in such an operation is due to efforts, cooperation, and support of the patient.”

How does a patient know that a knee replacement operation is imminent? There are three symptoms: pain, deformity and loss of function. When these three things happen, you are a prime case for knee replacement.

He feels more doctors should become orthopedics, adding that there is great dearth of them in Pakistan. But he is saddened by the fact that many doctors turn away deserving patients of bullet and accident wounds as their treatment involves police. “Doctor must not be harassed by police or judiciary about their reports in such cases. It hampers patient's emergency treatment, and affects professional performance of doctors in general.”

Dr Aslam's dream is to provide the best possible post graduate education to students of orthopedic surgery. This, he hopes to make possible through his involvement in the upcoming Quaid-i-Azam Hospital, Golra, where he plans to be associated with patients and students also.