Ex-Hong Kong women’s cricketer back in the swing after successful shoulder surgery
- Mary Henderson, 50, who played at East Asia Cup in 2017, now back playing ‘a little cricket’ after operation at Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Stubbs Road
- Big demand for sports medicine to treat rising number of injuries to knees, shoulders, wrists and ankles as more people of all ages enjoy active pursuits
Mary Henderson might still be playing for the Hong Kong women’s cricket team if she had not injured her shoulder.
The Briton, 50, has enjoyed a remarkable sporting life, having played competitive soccer, hockey, squash, lacrosse, netball, skiing and tennis. She represented Hong Kong’s women’s cricket team at the East Asia Cup in 2017.
However, taking part in all these high-intensity sports – as well as the rigorous training that they entail – led to increasing pain in her right shoulder, which would not go away.
My shoulder hurt a lot, [especially] at night, and I stopped being able to do certain exercises. I underwent physiotherapy sessions, but certain activities such as canoeing made my condition worse
“My shoulder hurt a lot, [especially] at night, and I stopped being able to do certain exercises,” says Henderson, who has faced many other injuries and setbacks in the past, including operations on her wrist and feet.
“I underwent physiotherapy sessions, but certain activities made [my condition] worse. When I canoed, for example, it would hurt even more.”
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To address the problem, Henderson was sent for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and then was referred to the department of orthopaedics at Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Stubbs Road, in Happy Valley – one of two Seventh-day Adventist hospitals in Hong Kong; the other is Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Tsuen Wan.
Dr Francis Lam, one of the department’s many orthopaedic specialists and surgeons experienced in sports medicine, took on her case.
He found that all those years of competitive sport had taken their toll on Henderson’s shoulder.
“There was a significant arthritis [joint inflammation] in the acromial articular joint of her shoulder, causing impingement against the supraspinatus tendon, or rotator cuff tendon,” Lam says.
It meant that one of the shoulder bones was pressing and rubbing against another.
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Opting for minimally invasive surgery to repair the damage and restore full mobility might seem to be the easiest solution. But for the hospital’s health care professionals such as Lam, there are many considerations to weigh up on behalf of the patient before making a decision.
You need to factor in how much pain the patient is experiencing before surgery, and how much better she can be afterwards. If there is no huge difference, then surgery is not worthwhile.
“You need to factor in how much pain the patient is experiencing before surgery, and how much better she can be afterwards,” he says. “If there is no huge difference, then surgery is not worthwhile.”
However, if a patient is unable to to take part in a certain sport and surgery will rectify the problem without the person being out of action for too long, then surgery will certainly be recommended, Lam says.
Higher risks for sports professionals
For most people, treating a broken bone or muscle tear may prove only a temporary inconvenience, but for professional sportsmen and women it will have greater significance when it means the difference between continuing – or ending – their careers.
Henderson says that during her rehabilitation “I did find it very frustrating when, even a month or two after surgery, I still couldn’t do anything, much less play. But I have faith in my surgeon. [The hospital staff] have all been very, very good.”
Having to tell a patient that enough is enough – that it’s time to stop with sports – is difficult for me
For some people faith is not enough and Lam and other doctors have to explain to some competitive athletes that their sporting careers are over because of injury.
“Having to tell a patient that enough is enough – that it’s time to stop with sports – is difficult for me,” he says.
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However, Henderson’s prognosis looks good.
“I have all the mobility back in my shoulder,” she says. “Although I’m still not meant to do too much repetitive motion, I can start playing a bit of cricket again. As far as I am concerned, Dr Lam has done a fantastic job.”
Sticking to the correct regime of rehabilitation exercises after surgery is the key to regaining strength and flexibility.
“After surgery, your strength can disappear very quickly,” Henderson says. “It’s well worth following the instructions correctly – and not giving up on the assigned exercises.”
As part of their regular practices, the hospital’s specialists discuss their rehabilitation and physiotherapy plans with patients well in advance, including clear milestones – with set timelines – to ensure they stay motivated and know they are close to recovering.
After surgery, your strength can disappear very quickly. It’s well worth following the instructions correctly – and not giving up on the assigned exercises
More demand for sports medicine
The field of sports medicine has developed with the increasing popularity of sports and other active pursuits. Originally most patients were younger athletes, but now people from a wide range of age groups are seeking treatment for sports injuries.
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Older people, for instance, are taking part in a lot more sports than in the past. As a result, injuries to the shoulders (a common problem among rugby players), knees (affecting many soccer players), wrists and ankles are becoming more widespread, Lam says.
To meet the growing demand for treatment, Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Stubbs Road has invested in the latest technology.
“Things are changing,” Lam says. “Now we have keyhole surgery, where a camera is inserted in the body, which means the surgery is minimally invasive and means less pain and scarring.”
I have all the mobility back in my shoulder. Although I’m still not meant to do too much repetitive motion, I can start playing a bit of cricket again
The quality of the cameras and surgical instruments has also improved.
“Ten years ago, high-definition screens were a novelty, but they are the standard now,” Lam says. “Surgeons can see things more clearly, through magnification – which we couldn’t do before, even during open surgery.
