System Came When the Doctor was Thirty

”Bro, look here, after the surgery, under anesthesia, the passive flexion and extension movements of your thumb and index finger are quite smooth, without any noticeable obstruction.”

”Luckily, we were fortunate enough not to damage the blood vessels and nerves; otherwise, the surgery would have been troublesome.”

After the surgery, Lu Cheng took off his sterile surgical gown, picked up his phone, and played the ’passive recovery’ video recorded during the operation.

Under the shadowless lamp, Lu Cheng’s profile was distinct, his tone mature and composed, exuding a convincing aura.

When the young man was killing chickens, he accidentally injured the flexor tendons in Zone 2, and post-injury, his hand could move, but the fingers refused to flex as commanded.

”Dr. Lu, should the post-operative recovery be good then?” The young man asked Lu Cheng, not concerned with the surgical details, only worried about the final outcome.

”Post-surgery, you need to follow the recovery instructions diligently. The prognosis is generally good; I’ve handled six cases like yours with Zone 2 flexor tendon injuries so far.”

”The worst case had decent finger flexion, just with slightly reduced finger strength compared to before, which is unavoidable.”

”Prioritizing functional activity is definitely over muscle strength recovery,” Lu Cheng comforted.

”Now that the surgery is done, don’t worry too much and focus on your recovery.”

”Moreover, with Zone 2 flexor tendon injuries, wherever you have the surgery, there’s more than a ten percent chance of non-optimal outcomes; this is the same at Xiangya Hospital and Xiangya Second Hospital, as well as other hospitals.”

”With the advancement of the internet, you can research the No Man’s Land tendon issue yourself.”

”Of course, I’m not saying this to evade responsibility; I mentioned this to you before the surgery.”

After hearing this, the young man thought for a moment and asked, ”Dr. Zhang said your tendon suturing is better than the doctors in the State, is that true?”

Lu Cheng replied, ”I don’t know, I’ve never compared. Each surgeon does their own work. Actually, Dr. Zhang was joking; we doctors don’t purposely put down others to elevate our peers.”

Only then did the patient transfer from the emergency operating room, and upon returning to the ward, he saw several others nearby with tendon ruptures, who seemed to be recovering well, which reassured him...

However, his girlfriend, after he was settled in bed, worriedly said, ”Shang Jun, I just checked, your tendon rupture in this area is highly complex, and the surgery is very difficult; we should have gone directly to the State...”

”I don’t think so. Dr. Lu didn’t say he wouldn’t disparage others to elevate himself, which shows he truly has the skills, unlike Dr. Zhang, who seems a bit amateurish.”

”People with real skills disdain belittling others to boost themselves.”

”Dr. Lu probably isn’t lacking patients, which is why he candidly suggested transferring us; while other doctors at the County Hospital subtly hint for patients to stay...”

Being someone who works in technology, Shang Jun deeply understood this.

”Really? But online they say poor handling of tendon ruptures here can easily lead to loss of function,” the woman still expressed concern.

”There’s a form of confidence that can’t be faked.” Shang Jun nodded.

Hearing this, an older gentleman next door timely spoke up: ”Let me tell you something, actually, the hospital’s orthopedics department has a professor from Xiangya Hospital’s hand surgery department, specializing in tendon suturing.”

”He visited our department just a few days ago and personally said that Dr. Lu’s level of tendon suturing is a six-four split between him and Dr. Lu, with Dr. Lu being the six.”

”That professor said it himself! I heard it with my own ears.”

”However, the professor also mentioned that Lu Cheng’s surgery fees are priced too low, that if he were at the State or Xiangya Hospital, they could be at least thirty to forty percent higher,” the middle-aged man said while flexing his wrist, laughing.

Shang Jun and the woman remained silent after hearing this, but there was a subtle joy in their expressions.

...

”Brother Lu, come here, a patient with a fracture has arrived, and the on-duty orthopedics doctor says to send them directly up for hospitalization.”

”Nobody’s coming down,” As Lu Cheng arrived at the general ward, just about to start writing up the surgery record, Tian Zhuang spoke.

”I can’t evaluate this, Brother Lu, you were in orthopedics before, you should be able to decide whether surgery is needed or not?”

Lu Cheng tilted his head, scratching his scalp, ”Who’s on duty in orthopedics today?”

”I think it’s Dr. Tayama,” Tian Zhuang replied.

”The patient went to get imaging done, results should be out soon, Brother Lu,” Tian Zhuang showed a rare agreeable face to Lu Cheng, no longer acting proud.

”Okay, let’s go check together,” Lu Cheng said.

Brother Tayama, I’ve heard he has close relatives at the County Health Bureau, with the Bureau being the direct authority over Renmin Hospital, thriving in his circumstances.

The emergency department requested a consultation, as remote imaging consultations are typical for on-duty orthopedic veterans.

Tian Zhuang returned to his workstation and refreshed his screen: ”Brother Lu, the imaging results are out.”

Lu Cheng turned sideways, clicked the mouse, and scrolled.

Although not in touch with formal orthopedic cases for a while, Lu Cheng had been an orthopedic doctor for seven years; diagnosing from images and theory are ingrained within his expertise.

”There’s a fracture!”

Lu Cheng pinpointed the issue at first glance: ”Elbow joint, radial head fracture.”

”Classification, Mason type II. No elbow joint dislocation.”

”No associated ulna fracture, the distal radioulnar joint and hand bones are intact, with no fracture lines detected,” Lu Cheng narrated the image details while reviewing.

”Should I issue hospitalization?” Tian Zhuang turned, his eyes bright.

Generally, fracture patients undergo orthopedic consultation, managed by orthopedics.

”Ah? Hospitalization?” Lu Cheng tilted his head, slightly surprised.

”Not issuing it?” Tian Zhuang questioned.

”No need, fractures here don’t warrant hospitalization; later, just apply a cast,” Lu Cheng advised.

”Not performing surgery for a fracture?” Tian Zhuang briefly expressed doubt.

With Tian Zhuang’s question, Lu Cheng momentarily hesitated, but upon recalling his knowledge, he understood——

Radial head fracture falls under Mason type II, assessing surgical indications.

Surgical treatment for Mason type II isn’t superior to conservative treatment, hence surgery isn’t necessary.

Since orthopedics’ Dr. Tayama didn’t intervene, it indicated the emergency department would handle the patient.

”Doctor, how’s my situation? Is there a fracture? It’s unbearable,” the patient had just completed an X-ray and returned to the emergency surgery clinic.

Lu Cheng stood, observing the young man in his early thirties, and said, ”There’s a fracture, but it’s manageable; once a cast is applied, just rest for a while.”

Upon hearing of a fracture, the young man initially panicked, but assured by the absence of surgery, he relaxed: ”A fracture doesn’t require surgery?”

”Is it manual reduction?” The prevalence of social media has increased the marketing of manual reductions.

Lu Cheng said, ”It’s not manual reduction. Not all fractures require surgery, nor manual reduction; this case is suitable.”

”Apply a forearm sling, take some anti-swelling medications, use ice locally, and switch to heat after forty-eight hours.”

”Of course, if you prefer surgery, you can directly go to orthopedics; the orthopedic doctor suggested directly seeking him.”

”It’s your choice!” Lu Cheng emphasized again.

The textbook clearly states that surgical treatment isn’t superior to conservative treatment, and surely, not weaker either.

Seeking monthly votes.