https://shihortho-blog.pages.dev/en/ Dr. Cheng-Min Shih's orthopedic notes: clinical philosophy, surgical insights, and patient education on spine, joint, and sports-related conditions. en-us https://shihortho-blog.pages.dev/en/20260802-canada-outreach/ https://shihortho-blog.pages.dev/en/20260802-canada-outreach/ Sun, 02 Aug 2026 01:00:00 GMT Joining Taichung Veterans General Hospital's international medical outreach to Canada: exchanges with the University of Toronto, SickKids Hospital, and UBC, and health consultations for overseas Taiwanese communities. https://shihortho-blog.pages.dev/en/20260802-jssr-2026/ https://shihortho-blog.pages.dev/en/20260802-jssr-2026/ Sun, 02 Aug 2026 01:00:00 GMT I recently attended the JSSR 2026 annual meeting, where my research received the conference's English Presentation Award, comparing traditional posterior minimally invasive fusion with lateral lumbar interbody fusion. https://shihortho-blog.pages.dev/en/20260802-cross-border-exchange/ https://shihortho-blog.pages.dev/en/20260802-cross-border-exchange/ Sun, 02 Aug 2026 01:00:00 GMT The operating room welcomed visiting physicians from Thailand and South Korea. Medicine truly has no borders. Everyone in that room was both a friend sharing technique and a teacher offering fresh perspective. https://shihortho-blog.pages.dev/en/20260802-team-nhqa-award/ https://shihortho-blog.pages.dev/en/20260802-team-nhqa-award/ Sun, 02 Aug 2026 01:00:00 GMT Our spine surgery team won the Platinum Award at the National Healthcare Quality Award (NHQA) for robotic-assisted minimally invasive anterior surgery for severe spinal deformity, an honor built on years of accumulated team effort. https://shihortho-blog.pages.dev/en/20260802-precision-diagnosis/ https://shihortho-blog.pages.dev/en/20260802-precision-diagnosis/ Sun, 02 Aug 2026 01:00:00 GMT Clarifying the core concern, assessing function, and cross-checking imaging: that's my diagnostic logic. Imaging is the last piece of the puzzle, not a replacement for what the patient actually feels. https://shihortho-blog.pages.dev/en/20260802-uncertainty-and-probability/ https://shihortho-blog.pages.dev/en/20260802-uncertainty-and-probability/ Sun, 02 Aug 2026 01:00:00 GMT What we're pursuing has never been zero risk. It's a precise decision made with full understanding, and walking with the patient toward the path most likely to restore their quality of life. https://shihortho-blog.pages.dev/en/20260802-symptom-location-vs-source/ https://shihortho-blog.pages.dev/en/20260802-symptom-location-vs-source/ Sun, 02 Aug 2026 01:00:00 GMT The location of a symptom doesn't necessarily equal the true source of the problem. Good clinical judgment doesn't come from a single symptom or a single image. It comes from looking at the whole person. https://shihortho-blog.pages.dev/en/20260802-why-xray-with-mri/ https://shihortho-blog.pages.dev/en/20260802-why-xray-with-mri/ Sun, 02 Aug 2026 01:00:00 GMT We treat the patient, not the image. Even with an MRI already in hand, I often still recommend an X-ray, because the two answer different questions. https://shihortho-blog.pages.dev/en/20260802-why-ask-again/ https://shihortho-blog.pages.dev/en/20260802-why-ask-again/ Sun, 02 Aug 2026 01:00:00 GMT Even with a full prior medical record on file, every visit is, to me, a fresh evaluation, and that's a safeguard for the patient, not a formality. https://shihortho-blog.pages.dev/en/20260802-when-pain-affects-life/ https://shihortho-blog.pages.dev/en/20260802-when-pain-affects-life/ Sun, 02 Aug 2026 01:00:00 GMT Most orthopedic problems don't appear overnight. They build up gradually over years of strain. An early evaluation doesn't mean you'll need treatment or surgery, but it can bring real peace of mind.