Patients Come First One of the two members of the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology who received ‘CSEA for public clinical services’, Dr Michael To has been specialising in treating rare bone diseases for years. He started practising at the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital (HKU-SZH) ten years ago, where he introduced HKUMed’s ‘gold standard’ of treating osteogenesis imperfecta, enabling 80% of patients to stand and walk after surgery. This was a major breakthrough in the Mainland at that time. Dr To also actively promotes interdisciplinary and even cross-regional collaboration. In recent years, he has worked with the Reproductive Medicine and Prenatal Diagnosis Center of HKU-SZH to provide prenatal genetic testing for osteogenesis imperfecta patients. As of today, HKU-SZH remains the sole provider of such a service nationwide. Dr To also travels to remote areas in the Mainland every now and then to offer pro bono clinical services. He has helped medical institutions in Kunming, Yunnan, to significantly reduce the age of diagnosis of osteogenesis imperfecta from 8-9 years old to 2-3 years old. This is key to recovery because the earlier the medical intervention sets in, the better the recovery results will be. Dedicating his spare time to treating patients, Dr To never complains. ‘As a doctor, patients certainly come first in everything I do,’ he said. Going against convention, Dr To invites patients to attend medical conferences to keep them abreast of the latest and most optimal treatment and related technologies. He also encourages patients to speak up, so that doctors might better understand their condition and expectations. Innovating on Technologies Another winner from the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Dr Christian Fang, is a champion of medical innovation. He is keen on developing the clinical applications of 3D printing to enhance the efficiency and accuracy in surgery. This brings him great joy and satisfaction at work, comparable to ‘playing video games’, as he said. Dr Fang and his team produce patient-specific anatomic models to help surgeons plan surgeries. The 3D-printed fixators and splints also enhance accuracy in orthopaedic surgery, thus expediting recovery and rehabilitation. According to Dr Fang, 3D printing technology can also be customised for patients. ‘In the past, implants had to be ordered from overseas, which often took several months before doctors could perform the surgery. Now the tailor-made implants are designed by HKUMed and can be printed locally in 1-2 weeks. The implants can replace fractured bones, allowing patients to restore their full outlook and mobility.’ Currently, Dr Fang and his team are handling most of the 3D printing cases for surgeries in Hong Kong. In addition to serving all local hospitals, the team also support hospitals as far as Thailand, Kazakhstan and Switzerland with their technology and designs. ↓Dr Christian Fang keeps a plaque (left side of his workstation) given by his granduncle to constantly remind himself the importance of professionalism and humility for a surgeon. →Dr Christian Fang Xinshuo, Clinical Associate Professor of the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, SClinMed was named CSEA winner for public clinical services. 1 In alphabetical order by surnames 35 HKUMed News Winter 2022
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