Ask An Orthopaedic Surgeon: Dr Tan Ken Jin from Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital Singapore

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dr. Tan Ken Jin asked 2 years ago

I am Dr Tan Ken Jin, Orthopaedic Surgeon based in Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital Singapore and Farrer Park Hospital Singapore. I am a fellowship trained orthopaedic surgeon with a subspecialty interest in Foot and Ankle disorders and Sports injuries. I graduated from the National University of Singapore and underwent Orthopaedic surgical training in Singapore. During this period, I had the opportunity to work in the various tertiary hospitals in Singapore where I gained wide exposure to the field of Orthopaedic surgery. I was awarded the College of Surgeons Gold Medal on completion of my advanced specialty training. I went on to complete fellowship-training in Foot and Ankle Reconstruction under the Ministry of Health Human Manpower Development Plan (HMDP) scholarship. I completed two separate fellowships; the first at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus in Germanyunder the renowned Professor Zwipp and the second at the Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction in the USA with Dr Mark Myerson, a world leader and pioneer in Foot and Ankle Surgery. When I returned from fellowship training, I joined the Sports Medicine Division at the National University Hospital, Singapore. I was an active member of the Sports Division and also served as a Visiting Consultant at the Sports and Orthopaedic Clinic at the University Health Centre, NUS where I have treated many sports injuries in University students and staff. I was also a founding member of the Foot and Ankle Division since its inception at the National University Hospital. I am still currently one of only a few active members from Singapore in the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS). During this period, I set up the fellowship-training program at the division that has trained surgeons from the region in Foot and Ankle reconstruction. I was the Program Director of the Foot and Ankle education program and supervised the training of residents in Foot and Ankle surgery. My subspecialty clinical expertise includes management of:

Sports injuries and arthroscopy of the Foot and Ankle.
Foot and Ankle Trauma
Forefoot deformities such as Hallux Valgus (Bunions) and hammer toes.
Foot deformities such as flatfeet and cavus feet in adults and children.
Ankle Arthritis with osteotomies, arthrodesis and ankle replacement.
Sports injuries and arthritis of the knee including knee arthroscopy, ligament reconstruction and knee replacement.

I also have a keen interest in the education of fellow doctors and students as well as the lay public in Orthopaedic conditions. I have written many articles in the local press to increase awareness about Foot and Ankle diseases and also spoken in many public forums. I have been invited as course chairman and faculty in multiple courses and also as a visiting lecturer both locally and in the region. My research interests include lower limb biomechanics, foot and ankle injuries, bone grafting and fusion biology. I have held competitive research grants to pursue research in these areas. I have also published more than 20 manuscripts and invited articles in medical journals on various Orthopaedic conditions and their management. In addition to my clinical work, I was also part of the NUH earthquake surgical relief team to Jogjakarta, Indonesia and was awarded the Minister for Health award in 2006 for my efforts. I am an Assistant Professor for the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS and was also a Core Faculty member for the NUHS Orthopaedic Residency Program, playing a key role in the education of future Orthopaedic specialists. Learn more about Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital here: https://patients.smarterhealth.sg/hospital/mount-elizabeth-novena-hospital-singapore/ and Farrer Park Hospital here: https://patients.smarterhealth.sg/hospital/farrer-park-hospital-singapore/ Learn more about me here: https://patients.smarterhealth.sg/specialist-doctor/tan-ken-jin/ I am excited to be here to share/discuss Foot and Ankle Disorders with everyone. Please feel free to ask me questions! === Want to ask a question? Submit your question at the bottom of this page. Don’t forget to include your name and email address to get notified when the doctor answers your question.

24 Answers

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Fajri answered 2 years ago

Doctor, two years ago I had an injury when I was doing taekwondo - my ankle and foot were swollen. I had a traditional massage then and the swelling got better. I am now still active doing taekwondo but I feel that my feet are not as strong as they used to be. Is this normal for a person who has suffered from an injury, that he can never revert to his original condition?

dr. Tan Ken Jin replied 2 years ago

Thanks for your query. When there is an injury to your ankle during martial arts, the most common injury would have been a ligament tear. If the tear is bad, then this can result in some instability and weakness of the ankle as a result. If it has been already 2 years, which is quite long, it would be good to have the ankle ligaments checked by an ankle specialist.

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*Keen to tele-consult with Dr Tan Ken Jin? Leave your details at https://patients.smarterhealth.sg/specialist-doctor/tan-ken-jin/ and we’ll help arrange an appointment.

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Monang answered 2 years ago

Doctor, I have been suffering from an ankle injury this 1 week. My foot is swollen. There is a bone bulging near my toes. How do we treat this, Doc?

dr. Tan Ken Jin replied 2 years ago

Hello thanks for your query. It sounds like the bulge might be a bunion. That is the most common painful bone bulge near your toes. You can rest and ice it and if it doesn’t get better you should get it evaluated for a diagnosis. If it is indeed a painful bunion then you can consider minimally invasive correction of the bunion.

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*Keen to tele-consult with Dr Tan Ken Jin? Leave your details at https://patients.smarterhealth.sg/specialist-doctor/tan-ken-jin/ and we’ll help arrange an appointment.

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Rafli Iswandar answered 2 years ago

Morning, Doctor. I am now 38 years old. When I was 19, I had an accident where a motorcycle ran over my feet. Since then, I’ve been limping. It doesn’t hurt, but I cannot stand upright and walk normally. Is it still possible to revert my condition back to normal now?

dr. Tan Ken Jin replied 2 years ago

Hello Sir. Sorry to hear about your accident almost 20 years ago now. It can be hard to say why you are limping now, but one possibility is there could have been fractures in the foot when it was crushed. This can lead to arthritis in the future that causes a limp. I think you are still young, and it is good to have the condition of your foot checked so that a diagnosis for your limping can be made. This can then guide the correct treatment to help you walk better.

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*Keen to tele-consult with Dr Tan Ken Jin? Leave your details at https://patients.smarterhealth.sg/specialist-doctor/tan-ken-jin/ and we’ll help arrange an appointment.

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Aida answered 2 years ago

Doctor, my son was diagnosed with clubfoot. His feet are plastered currently, which is what his doctor suggested. We changed the plaster once a week, and we have changed it 6 times now. Currently, we take off the plaster from one of his feet, but the strange thing is, my son was not given the kind of shoes that I usually read about in an online article. Is this okay, Doc? Please give me advice.

dr. Tan Ken Jin replied 2 years ago

Sorry to hear about your sons club foot. You are correct, it is common to be fitted with shoes that control the correction after the cast is removed. But each case can be different. So I would recommend that you can check with your Doctor why there is no need for further devices to control the correction of the club feet.

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*Keen to tele-consult with Dr Tan Ken Jin? Leave your details at https://patients.smarterhealth.sg/specialist-doctor/tan-ken-jin/ and we’ll help arrange an appointment.

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FLORENTINA answered 2 years ago

Doctor, the instep of my right foot hurts. It started when it was sprained but I ignored it. Please give me some advice.

dr. Tan Ken Jin replied 2 years ago

Thank you for your query. It is hard to tell what might be causing your pain, if the pain persists it would be good to visit a foot or orthopaedic specialist to get your foot checked for a diagnosis.

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*Keen to tele-consult with Dr Tan Ken Jin? Leave your details at https://patients.smarterhealth.sg/specialist-doctor/tan-ken-jin/ and we’ll help arrange an appointment.

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Vera answered 2 years ago

I fell down and my left foot is swollen and turned blue-ish. The ankle is stiff. I checked with a doctor, and the result was incomplete fracture distal of left tibia. The doctor said there is a fracture and must be operated on, otherwise it would be disabled and I would be limping. Is that right? Because one week after the fall, the swelling and the pain is reduced.

dr. Tan Ken Jin replied 2 years ago

It can be hard to give direct advice without seeing your X-ray or checking your foot. You may have sustained a stress fracture as this type of fracture is common to be incomplete. If you are unsure if surgery is really needed it can be good to get a second opinion.

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*Keen to tele-consult with Dr Tan Ken Jin? Leave your details at https://patients.smarterhealth.sg/specialist-doctor/tan-ken-jin/ and we’ll help arrange an appointment.

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mutiara answered 2 years ago

Doctor, since I was a baby my left foot has been smaller than my right foot. I am now 23 years old. Can it be fixed?

dr. Tan Ken Jin replied 2 years ago

Hello Sir. Usually for difference in foot size, if it doesn’t cause much symptoms and the smaller foot can fit into a shoe, we would recommend to leave it as it is. Lengthening the foot can be an option but can be complicated and would require a formal assessment of your foot to see which bones need to be targeted.

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*Keen to tele-consult with Dr Tan Ken Jin? Leave your details at https://patients.smarterhealth.sg/specialist-doctor/tan-ken-jin/ and we’ll help arrange an appointment.

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Pristanto answered 2 years ago

Doctor, I have a crooked little toe because I fell. Now the pain is gone, but if I walk too long, I feel it throbbing. Please give me your advice, do I need to get it treated again?

dr. Tan Ken Jin replied 2 years ago

Hello, this may be due to a fracture that healed in a wrong position. If the throbbing is troublesome it is good to get an X-ray and evaluation for the injury. Sometimes doing a minor surgery to straighten the toe will also help.

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*Keen to tele-consult with Dr Tan Ken Jin? Leave your details at https://patients.smarterhealth.sg/specialist-doctor/tan-ken-jin/ and we’ll help arrange an appointment.

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Diana Zhen answered 2 years ago

Doctor, I want to ask. My foot heel hurts when I stand for a long time - what is the cause and can you give me the solution? Thanks

dr. Tan Ken Jin replied 2 years ago

Hello this is usually due to pain from plantar fasciitis. I would recommend stretching exercises and wearing a comfortable cushioned shoe or slipper.

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*Keen to tele-consult with Dr Tan Ken Jin? Leave your details at https://patients.smarterhealth.sg/specialist-doctor/tan-ken-jin/ and we’ll help arrange an appointment.

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Ina Kusuma answered 2 years ago

Doctor, my brother is a karate athlete, and he is 17 years old. He suffered an injury on his ankle that caused him difficulty in maintaining his balance. What's the solution?

dr. Tan Ken Jin replied 2 years ago

Hello! This is usually due to ankle instability related to his old injury. It would be good to confirm this with an ankle specialist, and if so, a minimally invasive repair of the ankle ligaments is a good choice.

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*Keen to tele-consult with Dr Tan Ken Jin? Leave your details at https://patients.smarterhealth.sg/specialist-doctor/tan-ken-jin/ and we’ll help arrange an appointment.

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