At-a-Glance

My early postings in Orthopaedics were particularly inspiring. I saw how joint replacements changed patients’ lives significantly, and the impact arthroplasty had on patients suffering from hip and knee arthritis. From there, I wanted to pursue a career in Orthopaedics.

Patients should think about seeing an orthopaedic specialist when hip or knee pain moves beyond a passing ache into something that persists, limits function, or comes with warning signs such as the following:
1. Pain interfering with daily life
2. Stiffness or significant loss of range of motion
3. Mechanical symptoms of locking , catching, painful clicking, giving way
4. Recurrent swelling or visible change

We keep up to date with Orthopaedic literature by keeping important journals under our subscription list. Where new technology becomes available, we visit international conferences to keep up to date, attend relevant training events. I am currently a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and we also have an active subscription to Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. There is no better way to keep up to date, than keeping tabs on the latest medical literature.

My patient care philosophy is shared decision making, taking into account pateint’s values and expectations. Surgery is explored not as the first default, but when absolutely necessary.

One of the most common myths about hip and knee replacement is that patients often fear that once they embark on hip and knee replacements, that in a few years, the joints will come loose and the surgery will need to be performed again. With modern implants and techniques, most joint replacements will last a few decades, and will likely be the only arthroplasty surgery patients will need. I show them the data from the joint registries, and reassure them.

We give our patients time to consider the treatments offered. Especially with regards to surgery, we allow them time to make the decision and encourage them to take the discussions with their family. We engage them not only in clinic but answer their questions , as they arise, via our mobile, email channels, while patients are considering the options. We then meet them again when they have taken the time to consider, and answer any other questions they may have.

As far as possible, I try to keep time in my clinic for work, and time at home for family and personal time including fitness. We make it a point to travel at least twice a year to stay refresh and keep engaged without burning out. Maintaining a good balance is not easy, but critical for us so we can stay passionate in our goals.

For me, over the last few years, we see the emergence of robotic assisted knee replacements. The ability now to plan the cuts accurately will reduce variability arising from inaccurate cuts. From there, once outcome data are available and linked to intraoperative alignment philosophies and balancing, we will be able to deliver better outcomes to our patients in a much more consistent manner.

To preserve hip and knee health, we should maintain a good muscle envelope by having a routine that keeps those muscles in good shape. We must be mindful of our weight and the impact our weight have on the joints. Lastly we must consider the activities we do, bearing in mind the current state of our joints, our weight, and the condition of the muscle envelope.   While surgeons can do joint injections to reduce pain, I believe the above factors discussed can bring lasting change to hip and knee health, in almost any group of patients.