Orthopaedic treatment in a time of crisis

That’s right. Now, imagine if you haven’t made any changes to what we’ve just talked about. Especially improving your diet. Your body won’t be ready for the sudden change.

In the case of jumping, it causes a lot of sudden stress on your knees and leads to a higher risk of sustaining orthopaedic injuries. Stress fractures from repeated trauma to the knee due to high-intensity exercise routines, knee and hip issues, or the weakening of joints and ligaments are issues you will have to expect.

For those who are suffering from orthopaedic injuries, it is crucial to seek immediate help lest the conditions worsen. However, hospitals are currently tied up with COVID-19 screenings and cases.

Where can individuals experiencing orthopaedic issues go to receive the appropriate medical treatment safely and efficiently?

A viable alternative, then, is ambulatory care centres. Patients can receive treatment with a fast turnaround time with minimal risk.

Ambulatory care centres, such as StarMed, are suitable for patients who are looking for medical care on an outpatient basis. This includes diagnosis, observation, consultation, treatment, intervention, and rehabilitation.

Even advanced medical procedures are available for the patient! I would say that this relatively new concept is beneficial for patients. It significantly lessens the risk of being exposed to high-risk patients with contagious conditions. Patients can undergo their treatment with peace of mind.

For example, sports injuries where ligament reconstruction or cartilage repair is needed can be done in day surgery and won’t require patients to go to the hospital for treatment. They can receive the treatment without any more delays.

Ultimately, it is a cost-effective alternative as it would not incur hospitalisation fees. Imagine, a patient comes in with excruciating pain in her knee, leaves within a day, and returns to the quality of life she is used to.

Indirectly, the ambulatory care model allows hospitals to focus their care and resources on patients who need them the most. With the way ambulatory care is built, 60-70% of knee and hip sports surgery can be shifted to ambulatory care settings, alleviating pressure on hospitals.

Furthermore, once we exit the circuit breaker and enter post-COVID-19, I believe ambulatory care centres may be the solution to addressing many of the elective procedures that will inevitably flood our hospital systems.

An ambulatory care setting would not require patients to be warded, unless necessary. The star benefit is quick turnaround time. For instance, after a consultation with the patient, I can immediately arrange for scans with the radiologist at StarMed, which can be conducted before, during, and after the surgery.

This allows us to have the flexibility to adapt the treatment prescribed for the patient based on real-time updates, as such scans can be done in the same building.

Once the scan results are out, we can discuss the next steps for the procedure he or she requires, and then set up the relevant paperwork to prepare for the procedure. All done in a matter of hours.

This is largely thanks to the multidisciplinary team-based care we have at StarMed. Ensuring the patient can receive the necessary treatment and follow-up as soon as possible. The entire duration of seeking help is therefore reduced and treatment can be carried out without unnecessary delays.

An ambulatory care setting allows quality treatment for the patient at a lower overall cost. This is especially helpful for patients who do not have insurance coverage to ease their financial burden.

With high-tech equipment in place to facilitate arthroscopic procedures, I am also able to perform minimally invasive complex arthroscopic surgery, if required, in the comfort of StarMed’s premises within 45 minutes to an hour.

Under the skillful care and management of an experienced anaesthesiologist, analgesia can be titrated accurately for adequate pain control. Also allowing early rehabilitation which facilitates early recovery.

Moreover, minimally invasive procedures also reduce the likelihood of scarring. This ensures quick recovery for patients and allows them to return to their normal lives.

Robotic surgery has been in the surgical field for more than 2 decades and has proved its value in improving surgical care by improving dexterity, 3-D visualisation, and supporting tele-surgery.

Over time, robotic devices have evolved to be smaller, more efficient, less expensive, and allow more extensive acceptance.

The field of orthopaedic surgery has been an early adopter of robotic surgery. Robotic surgery is very suitable for arthroplasty surgery whereby precision and reproducibility are essential.

Robotic-assisted joint replacement has been developed for total hip, total knee, and half knee replacement. Utilisation of robots in joint replacement improves the position of the components, improves patient satisfaction, and reduces complications.

Robotic-assisted joint replacement has been gaining traction and popularity worldwide and in Singapore. I am trained and able to perform robotic-assisted joint replacement surgery.

Leading a sedentary lifestyle can also be detrimental to your bone health. Inactivity and poor diets are risk factors for poor bone health, and this lifestyle habit is no doubt exacerbated by current WFH measures.

“One in three Singaporeans lead inadequately active lifestyles” - Linette Lai, The Straits Times

Women can build up their bone mass to its peak when they are around 30-35 years of age. Bone health will deteriorate substantially thereafter, so building up bone health in the earlier years is crucial.

Male and female youths leading inactive lifestyles essentially miss out on opportunities for bone strengthening during the prime window, especially when they do not exercise.

Not only that, obese or overweight individuals deal with greater pressure exerted on their joints, which may lead to knee arthritis or knee degeneration as they age.

At ambulatory care centres, people can seek regular check-ups and ensure that their bones are kept healthy. These checks are very simple and fast due to all our specialists being in one building, complemented by consultations which help patients learn how to improve and upkeep bone health.

This setting provides a seamless experience for patients; they can be referred to the cardiologist or dietician within the same centre for a holistic assessment of their health, as heart and gut health are similarly affected by sedentary lifestyles.

It is encouraging that the current situation has inspired people to adapt and overcome their limitations, and I believe that home workouts and remote working are here to stay, even after the pandemic.

As this behaviour continues, we need to be vigilant in adapting the right care we give to our bodies to accommodate the lifestyle changes.

If we are not careful, injuries may occur when home workouts are not done properly, especially in an environment without professional guidance. Our focus must continue to be on our health and wellbeing, especially our bone health. It plays an important role in providing structure to our body, protecting our vital organs and anchoring our muscles.

It would be great to see more Singaporeans adopting healthier habits learned during the circuit breaker period and improving their overall wellness, going into post-COVID-19.

If you have any questions about the procedures you can undergo at HMI, or would simply like to know what your options are, feel free to reach out to me here.