Chapter 66: Xiao Lu Is A Professional Orthopedic Doctor, Alright
“Let’s go, Xiao Lu, I’ll help you!”
“Look at my physique, is my strength enough?” Lin Qianlong felt no reservations with Lu Cheng and stepped forward.
He is a Deputy Chief Physician, and with him on the scene, Lu Cheng wouldn’t have to shoulder all the responsibility.
Of course, the main reason was Lu Cheng’s comprehensive knowledge of medicine he had just outlined, which made it necessary for him to act this way to be a good Director of the Emergency Department.
However, Lin Qianlong was worried his strength wasn’t enough.
The nickname “strongman” for orthopedic doctors is well-known.
Hearing this, Lu Cheng chuckled, “Director Lin, reducing this patient’s dislocation doesn’t require great strength. I’ll be using the Kocher reduction method; you just need to lend a hand.”
“Let me finish writing the medical orders first. Also, we don’t have a template for manual reduction of joint dislocations here, so I need to write one from scratch, which will take some time…”
“Director Lin, it’s not good to leave the patient unattended for such a long time. Could you do me a favor and help stabilize the patient’s emotions?”
It’s quick to establish a surgical template if a general one exists, but typing it out word by word from scratch requires a considerable amount of time.
During this period, it’s best not to leave the patient waiting.
Of course, Lu Cheng suggested this to give Lin Qianlong a sense of importance, making him feel significant.
Leaders and superiors, especially older colleagues, fear the situation where everything can proceed normally in their absence, as it implies they are not indispensable.
“Alright, I’ll go talk to the patient.” Director Lin knew it was time for him to exert his directorial authority.
The classic shoulder dislocation reduction technique in orthopedics is the hand-pull-foot-push method, but since Lin Qianlong didn’t inquire why Lu Cheng wasn’t choosing this technique, Lu Cheng didn’t feel the need to explain that the Kocher reduction method is more energy-efficient and safer than the hand-pull-foot-push method.
…
It took Lu Cheng twenty minutes to create a new template for the informed consent form for manual reduction of joint dislocations. After saving it to the template area, he began to establish the framework with the patient’s basic information.
The surgical risk informed consent form was completed. After printing it, Lu Cheng brought it to the patient.
Director Lin, true to his title, had already persuaded the young couple before Lu Cheng arrived. Thus, when Lu Cheng reiterated the surgical risks, neither of them hesitated much before choosing to sign and pay.
“A forearm sling is relatively inexpensive; the price difference between county hospitals isn’t significant, probably around twenty to thirty yuan. However, the manual reduction of joint dislocations at our hospital is charged at 220 yuan per case.”
Lu Cheng explained to the pair.
“Okay, no problem, Doctor Lu. Just print the payment slip for us. We hope it won’t require open reduction in the operating room,” the girl said somewhat worriedly, awaiting Lu Cheng’s response.
“We will do our best. Actually, your dislocation is the most straightforward and simplest among shoulder dislocations, so there’s reason for optimism,” Lu Cheng explained with a smile.
“You’re also in the medical field; you should know that no procedure is 100% foolproof, right?”
The girl nodded, and then followed Lu Cheng and Director Lin into the procedure room.
“During the manual reduction of a joint dislocation, a fear response may occur, meaning the pain will gradually increase. Please bear with it; this process won’t be very long.”
“After the reduction is complete, the pain will immediately subside…” After instructing Director Lin to help stabilize the scapula, Lu Cheng explained this to the girl.
“Okay, Doctor Lu!~” The girl listened as Lu Cheng spoke methodically, without any superficial pre-operative communication. Instead, she felt quite trusting of Lu Cheng as a professional orthopedic doctor, at least more grounded than many doctors she had encountered.
Lu Cheng began the procedure. After about two minutes, the girl reached an extreme point of pain and cried out in agony.
Simultaneously, with a click, the sound of the joint returning to its socket was heard as expected.
Lu Cheng signaled Director Lin to release his hand, and he himself slowly eased the pressure, bringing the girl’s left arm back to her side.
The girl closed her eyes, a tear welling up in the corner. She felt a bit wronged; it was supposed to be a nice Qixi Festival, a time for sweetness…
“It’s done. It should be reduced. How do you feel now?” Lu Cheng patiently waited for half a minute until the girl had somewhat recovered her composure before asking.
The girl sniffled, “It doesn’t seem to hurt anymore.”
“That’s good. Now, try to raise your left hand. Director Lin, please help record a video, but don’t include her face.” Lu Cheng extended his mobile phone.
Lu Cheng guided her and began assessing her range of motion: “Raising the hand to the side over the shoulder, 120 degrees. Good. Now raise it over your head. Don’t adduct; you’ve just had it reduced, there’s a risk of re-dislocation…”
“I think the reduction is satisfactory. Get a forearm sling, get a plain film of the shoulder joint for follow-up, and then get insurance. You can go home.”
“The forearm sling must be worn properly at all times, except when bathing. It cannot be removed for half a month. Come back for a follow-up in half a month. Is that okay…”
“Yes, if you’re very afraid of pain and are willing to take some medication, you can take some painkillers and anti-swelling medication home.”
“Okay, thank you, Doctor Lu.” The girl nodded in agreement.
…
Half an hour later, the girl stormed out alone.
“Don’t touch me, Du Hongdong. We’re over. You don’t respect me at all.”
“Don’t touch me. If you touch me again, I’ll call the police…” By the time they reached the entrance of the Emergency Department, before even passing through the curtain, the girl’s demeanor had completely changed.
“I’m sorry, baby… I really know I was wrong.”
“You make me sick. Don’t call me!~” The girl rushed out.
Director Lin looked at the young couple’s sudden outburst, utterly bewildered.
He glanced at Lu Cheng, who smiled with narrowed eyes, “Director Lin, this girl’s shoulder dislocation wasn’t a typical traumatic one; it was a ‘romantic’ dislocation.”
Lu Cheng gave it a unique name.
Director Lin immediately understood, “Youth is wonderful.”
He didn’t concern himself with whether they would break up. Doctors could only relieve pain and cure illness; they couldn’t provide any other form of assistance.
Successfully completed manual reduction, administered painkillers and anti-swelling medication to alleviate the patient’s inflammatory and edema response, reduced the pain burden for a pain-sensitive patient, and earned 0.8 Skill Points!
Lu Cheng didn’t feel it was a loss, looking at the disproportionate return for his effort.
It’s better to teach someone to fish than to give them a fish; mastering this technique now might be useful in the future.
Lu Cheng then looked at another regulation.
Xu’s Bone Setting Technique – Fracture Volume – Beginner 2/5
Looking at his meager 1 Skill Point, he could only sigh: Take it slow…
Lu Cheng still had to stay on duty in the emergency comprehensive ward, so Director Lin left.
However, as he left, Director Lin took the initiative to call Peng Haibo: “Director Peng, thank you.”
“If your department has any joint dislocations you can’t handle in the future, be sure to remember to consult with our department,” Director Lin’s tone was not overly polite.
Peng Haibo didn’t understand what had happened: “Director Lin, what do you mean by this?”
Director Lin said humbly, “Director Peng, it’s nothing. It’s just that Xiao Lu is a professional orthopedic doctor, and our Emergency Department is a general department that picks up the leftovers to make a living. I hope Director Peng won’t mind.”
“Is it Lu Cheng? What did he do?” Peng Haibo immediately realized and felt nervous.
