The MOA APOA Teaching Fellowship usually lasts for 10 to 14 days. However, because of my busy schedule back in Hong Kong, I had to squeeze all the activities into one week.
On my arrival in the afternoon of Sunday, February 12, 2006, therefore, I was immediately taken to the University Malaya Medical Center to see a few patients scheduled for operation demonstration the next day. All the trainees and Prof Dato Tunku Sara Ahmad was there and we had very lively academic discussion for two hours. Eventually, we chose three patients:-
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A congenital macrodactyly of the thumb and index finger for reduction of size, correction of deformity, and nail reconstruction |
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A scaphoid non-union advance collapse SNAC wrist for 4-corner fusion |
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A partial cut ulnar nerve for exploration and neurolysis / nerve graft |
Next day, the operations went on smoothly and the ulnar nerve had a neurolysis.
On Tuesday, February 14, I met Dr Roohi Ahmad who drove me to the University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre with a whole day’s program of lectures, case discussions, and visits to a very impressive modern hospital. Various topics including the functional anatomy, mycobacterial infection, mangled hands,flexor tendon healing, and distal radius fracture were covered.
I left for Kuching on the same evening and was received by Dr Chuah who met me at the airport. On the next morning, we arrived at the Hospital Umum Sarawak and screened over operation cases and discussed with the trainees on various aspects. The cases scheduled for operation included polydactyly and posterior interosseus nerve palsy. Subsequently, we proceeded to reconstruction for the polydactyly and release of the posterior interosseus nerve.
The next day I flew to Kota Kinabalu. On that afternoon, I was taken to the orthopaedic outpatient clinic of Queen Elizabeth Hospital and met Dr Baskaran and his group of orthopaedic surgeons and trainees. Again, we screened through a few possible cases for operation the next day, as well as discussed on some interesting cases at the outpatient clinic. The next morning, we started by presenting my talk on “An appreciation of the Hand” at the CME lecture series. This was followed by performing on a case of release of burnt contracture and skin grafting, and another case of excision of haemangioma and reconstruction of web space.
All the academic activities had been most enjoyable and rewarding for me. I was amazed at the great variety of clinical materials presented. Just as in my previous visits, I was impressed by the knowledge of the trainees. This time, I also had interaction with the orthopaedic nursing staff and was equally impressed with their expertise. The operating theatres were modern, although the ward environment was rather variable. I noted, however, that all hospitals were undergoing some kind of renovation or reconstruction and I am sure that in line with the steady economic development, the new hospitals will be just as impressive as the one at University Kebangsaan
Malaysia Medical Centre. In return, I hope that the local surgeons and trainees had benefitted or at least been stimulated by my activities. Already, discussions on further collaboration were started between Hong Kong and Malaysia and I am sure that something will materialize this year.
On the social aspect, all my hosts were gracious. I was shown many different aspects of Malaysian culture. At the end of my stay in Kota Kinabalu, I planned to climb up Mount Kinabalu only to be aborted due to a minor accident. This gives me a good excuse to return!! |
