Muscat Private Hospital to conduct a CME seminar

The topic for the CME is "Knee Osteoarthritis - Are patient's getting timely advice?"

Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, occurs when the cushiony cartilage between two bones wear out and the bones begin to rub against each other in the joint (the area where two bones come together).

This often leads to pain, swelling, a decrease in motion at the joint, stiffness, or the formation of bone spurs (tiny growths of new bone). While osteoarthritis can occur at almost any joint, osteoarthritis of the knee is the most common type.

More than 10 million Americans have osteoarthritis of the knee and most people affected are 45 years or older. Almost 25% of patients seen by Orthopaedic Surgeons complain of knee pain, most of which is due to Osteoarthritis.

Dr Sultan explained, "Osteoarthritis also called degenerative arthritis or wear-and-tear arthritis occurs when the tissue that protects the bones wears out. Osteoarthritis in the knee can be a painful problem. There may be a genetic (inherited) tendency to develop osteoarthritis. Joint injuries and overweight also increase osteoarthritis risk."

Gerard Strong, Hospital Director, Muscat Private Hospital, added, "With the changes in lifestyles today, knee ailments are far more common than previously known. Knee Osteoarthritis is often neglected as regular pain or diagnosed at a much later stage, when it's too late. This CME, by Dr Sultan al Maskari, who is an authority on knee ailments, will help doctors understand patients better and will also aid in the right diagnosis at the right time."

Registered with the UK General Medical Council since 1991, Dr Sultan joined the Orthopaedic and Trauma Specialist Register in 2002. In addition to the Orthopaedic training in Liverpool, UK, he also underwent special training in total hip and total knee replacement training at Wrightington Hospital (the home of total hip replacement). Later he joined Khoula Hospital as a Senior Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon with special interest in diseases of the knee and its surgical treatment.

Muscat Private Hospital is Muscat's premier private medical facility. Strategically located in Baushar, the Hospital provides first-class out-patient and in-patient facilities and all the diagnostic and treatment capabilities of an acute care hospital, including CT and MRI.

The CT scan is a 64 slice volume CT which has capability for CT Cardiac Angiography, CT Colonoscopy, Lung Imaging, and Neurological Imaging. Our new range of services includes Women's Health Services, Executive Health Screening, Critical Care Unit and ER, making the hospital a one-stop shop, convenient and accessible to our patients.

The hospital is the first facility in Oman to provide cardiac surgery services. The hospital is managed by UME Group, an international hospital management group with more than 27 years experience in the Middle East and the UK.