UK-based Orthopaedic surgeon preaches injury prevention

Sports doctor aims to help athletes using laser technology for procedures

KARACHI: A country where the sports facilities are not up to the mark, a UK-based Pakistani Sports Orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Umer Butt, has taken an initiative to preach sportsmen techniques to avoid injuries and has also brought the latest ‘Laser Surgery’ technology to increase the life of athletes.

It is seen that the players, whether professional or the ones playing in local grounds of the country, are quite often injured while participating in Cricket, Football and Hockey — the most popular sports in Pakistan.

Butt, who has received his education from UK and Russia is now a Senior Executive Consultant in Orthopaedics Specialising in knee and a shoulder surgery, is practicing full-time at Circle Bath/Reading Hospital in UK since October 2013 and has been working with top football, rugby and cricket teams in UK.

He has now come back to his native country to improve the fitness standards of the sports players.

The surgeon, while talking to The Express Tribune, told that the knowledge of avoiding injuries in our players is not up to the mark. “The players don’t know about how to avoid injuries while playing, or when you fall during the play or get pushed. I have seen the players coming to me after their knees and shoulders are completely ruined,” he revealed.

“Players playing at local grounds in the city like Karachi and Lahore are quite often seen injuring their knee and shoulder. They then rely on home remedies and worsen their case. For example if a player injures his knee, he comes home does the icing and takes pain killers or other available medication. Once the pain is gone he goes back in the field. That is when it starts getting worse,” he explained.

“Here in Pakistan, the players hesitate to go to a doctor as they have the fear that if the respective federations or board get to know they will end his career. Whereas, in the UK, the board themselves send their players to the doctors.

“There is lack of knowledge among the players even if they are pros or the ones playing in the neighbourhood. I have treated many national level cricketers who come to me for treatment but then ask to keep it a secret. They usually come to me when 90% of their injury has gotten worse. Mostly they come with Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury.

Butt is the only Sports Orthopaedic Surgeon in Pakistan who operates through laser, which allows him to carry out the procedure courtesy only two holes and in only 30 minutes rather than using the old techniques which involve cutting and installing metal screws.

He has also brought the partial knee injury technology to Pakistan and wants to educate the youngsters through educational institutes, clubs, and departments.

“I have done surgeries of sportsmen, and Army and Police personnel too. The main motive is to educate them how to avoid injury and to come to a specialist at the very time they get an injury. When they come to me I tell them all about how to jump or fall to avoid injury and also tell them to come at the early stage, now the things have started to change as they also go and educate other players,” he said.

The doctor now goes back to the UK only to meet his family and has been serving in the AO Clinic in Karachi and at the National Hospital in Lahore. “I want to motivate other Pakistani surgeons who are practicing in the UK to come to Pakistan and serve the nation. If I will get recognition for this work they will come too and this will help us in improving our performances in sports,” he said.