Over the past two years, exchanges between spine surgeons in Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific region have become more frequent as international visits have resumed following the pandemic. The Taiwan Spine Society invited me to host visiting physicians at Taichung Veterans General Hospital. Amid a busy schedule of patient care and administrative work, I always look forward to opportunities to learn from colleagues from other countries.

Over the past two weeks, we welcomed three visiting physicians from Thailand and South Korea through a traveling fellowship program.

One of the cases was a middle-aged man with lumbar spondylolisthesis. I chose oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) to realign and stabilize the affected spinal segment. This approach reaches the spine through the side of the abdomen, avoiding disruption of the back muscles. With a well-established technique and a coordinated team, blood loss is usually low, which can help with recovery.

Before surgery, I discussed the patient's condition and treatment plan with the two Korean physicians. They agreed that the approach was appropriate. Their visit was short, and we were still preparing for the procedure, so they went to observe another operation and planned to return later.

Less than half an hour later, I had completed the main surgical steps and went to see them. They were surprised that I was already there, and I couldn't help smiling at their reaction.

I pay close attention to detail rather than pursuing speed for its own sake. When the workflow is familiar and the team is well coordinated, patients can spend considerably less time under anesthesia.

Between procedures, we also discussed how approaches to spine care differ across our countries. We learned from one another's perspectives as well as our surgical techniques.

The skeleton-print lead apron in the photo has become something of a personal trademark in the operating room. People ask about it often. I first saw the design at a conference in the United States and thought it was a fitting bit of humor for someone who works with bones every day. I ordered a custom-made apron with my name embroidered on it. By the time it was ready, I had returned to Taiwan, so the company shipped it to me.

There was just one small surprise: the company apparently wasn't sure how large the Chinese characters should be. My name is so discreet that you have to look closely to find it. 🔍 😂