16
THE HEALTH | JANUARY-FEBRUARY , 2022
| Column |
Life ’ s early lessons It ’ s crucial to explain the treatment plan to patients from Day One
BONE TO PICK
BY DR JONAS FERNANDEZ
IT WAS February 2002 , and a 15-yearold me was representing the school Under-15 football team in the final group game of the season . Then came the clash that will forever change the course of my life . After going in for a 50-50 challenge of the ball , I came out the worse . I fractured my tibia ( shin bone ), to cut the story short . A tibia fracture can be treated with a cast or with surgery . My fracture was treated with the former method .
It would lead to my first encounter with an orthopaedic doctor , Datuk Dr Abdul Hamid Abd Kadir . It would be a relationship I would maintain even after entering medical school . It would not be far-fetched to say Dr Abdul Hamid was my first inspiration .
It was an agonising two and a half months . I remember how I was filled with hope that the cast would be removed during each doctor ’ s visit .
From my own experience , I understood the importance of explaining the treatment plan to the patient from the very first encounter .
Within one month or so after removing the cast , I was back into sports . I was actively taking part . Zero physiotherapies . I found it tricky getting back to full fitness of my pre-injury levels .
Doing things differently
In November 2002 , about nine months after the first fracture , my tibia fractured again in the same place during a taekwondo tournament . It was another two and a half months of the cast . That was almost six months in total .
This time we did things differently . I was lucky to have been seen and treated by Dr Ramlan Abd Aziz and his
The initial fracture .
Dr Abdul Hamid and ( below ) Dr Ramlan Abd Aziz .
team at the National Sports Institute ( NSI ), the medical unit of the National Sports Council ( NSC ).
I worked closely with him and his team of dedicated physiotherapists . At the time , I didn ’ t understand why I had to undergo physiotherapy instead
Callus ( new bone ) seen around the fracture line .
Fracture site consolidated ( hardened new bone ).
of focusing on my sports activities ( as I was very eager after months of missing out ).
Gym work ( strengthening ), throwing a medicine ball while standing on a wobble board ( proprioception training ), swimming
Dr Jonas Fernandez is an Orthopaedic Surgeon at Putrajaya Hospital
Re-fracture of the tibia .
Slight deformity seen on the side view X-ray compared with the other leg .
exercises , etc ., just seemed like a waste of energy at that time .
After months of vigorous work , the NSI team slowly integrated sportsrelated exercises , and subsequently full-on into sports .
Strengthening and conditioning exercises paid off , as in my first tournament back , I won the national junior taekwondo championships again . — The Health
Send subscription to Revon Media Sdn Bhd Revongen Corporation Centre Level 17 , Top Glove Tower , No . 16 , Persiaran Setia Dagang , Setia Alam , Seksyen U13 , 40170 Shah Alam , Selangor Darul Ehsan , Malaysia .
Tel : + 6 03 3359 1166 Fax : + 6 03 3358 0303 Email : subscription @ revonmedia . com