May 21, 2009
The Pro
Bone-fide expert
Dr Leslie Leong, 42, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Island Orthopaedic Group, explains to POON CHIAN HUI why he is like a carpenter
I decided to specialise in orthopaedic surgery because...
I was fascinated by the number of tools in the operating theatre when I first assisted my senior colleague in a knee replacement surgery in 1995.
The skeletal system is fascinating because...
It is where man meets machine. Like a machine, you can remove and replace parts of the system with artificial components, such as in knee and hip replacements. You can insert metal plates to fix fractures.
However, the 'human' part also needs proper care to ensure complete recovery - it's not only about the bones, but also the muscles, ligaments, tendons, blood vessels, nerves and skin. All of these have to be managed together.
If I were to give an analogy for what I do, I'd be like...
A carpenter. Orthopaedic surgery involves healing with the use of numerous tools to perform procedures which involve the cutting of bones and so on.
There is also the idea of putting together a structure, quite like how a carpenter has to assemble separate parts to create a piece of functional furniture.
I have come across all types of cases...
Including some cringe-worthy ones, where maggots and flies can be found nesting in the putrifying wounds.
A typical day for me would be...
I arrive at the clinic at 9am. Work involves clinic consultations, ward rounds, surgery, conferences and the occasional emergency call.
I knock off at 5pm. When I get home, I have dinner with my family. Afterwards, I'll spend time playing with my five-year-old son. My wife is an occupational therapist.
I love patients who are...
Knowledgeable - or those who make an effort to gain knowledge about their condition - and take an interest in being actively involved in the recovery process.
Patients who get my goat are...
Those who ask too many repetitive questions, retain too little of what I tell them and take no interest in the healing and recovery process.
One little known fact about the knee joint is...
It is not a hinge joint. It rolls, glides and pivots as it bends.
Things that put a smile on my face are...
Happy and satisfied patients. Examples would be when I manage to save their limbs from amputation or when they are able to walk once more after a knee or hip replacement.
It breaks my heart when...
Complications occur after surgery, especially in a challenging case. In some severe cases, patients may die.
I wouldn't trade places for the world because...
That's how I met my wife.
My best tip...
Movement is life - so go out there and exercise. Regular exercise improves bone mass, muscle tone and strength, as well as joint flexibility. Not to mention, there are also other health benefits like keeping your heart and lungs in good shape.
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