Korean Job Discussion Forums

JustJohn · Joined: 18 Oct 2007 Location: Your computer screen

Dislocated my finger playing ball during Chuseok. Popped it back in and thought nothing of it, didn't seem to be healing right so I went to the doctor yesterday. They said I ruptured the tendon and wanted to perform surgery today and keep me in the hospital for a week.

I said no, I have a demo lesson this week and want to check my other options. My teachers took me to a different doctor who also seemed to think the tendon was ruptured and said the surgery was too difficult for him. (Pinky finger tendons are pretty delicate I guess)

What do you guys think about all this? I got the first hospital down to 2-3 days stay. Not sure if I trust them 100 percent, but maybe they're just really concerned. Both doctors said it was pretty bad...

Any (non-flaming) suggestions/comments/advice/ welcome. Thanks!

Tony_Balony · Joined: 12 Apr 2007

You got a second opinion so you are set. Looks like the hosp for you.

Kimchi Cha Cha · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: was Suncheon, now Brisbane

Had a similar situation in my first year here. I was drunk and trying to hit those punching machines they have outside arcades but missed and hit the metal ring above it with my right ring finger, ouch!

The next day I tried to find a hospital but gave up and just made a dodgy splint for myself and decided to wait until I head back to Australia in a couple of months to get it fixed.

Saw a couple of specialists back in Australia who said it was set in a dislocated position with the tendon still attached to a chip of bone which is dislodged. They asked if it was painful or particularly inhibiting, I said no and they basically said come back when it starts to hurt too much as it's going to be costly to fix and they might have to wire it into a permanently fixed position or give me a knuckle replacement. It hasn't sufficiently hurt yet four years on and I'll get money ready to have the surgery sometime in the future.

(The doctors did ask if it was so painful for the couple of months after the incident why I didn't see a doctor in Korea I just sighted the language barrier, but in reality I was too lazy and stupid to go to the hospital and being an Australian male we like to think we can fix anything and nothing is too painful!)

I'd strongly suggest letting the doctors fix you here, it's going to be less hassle and money in the long term with a reduced chance of complications. And, you won't have a deformed finger which makes typing just that bit more difficult. Wink

anyangoldboy · Joined: 28 Sep 2007

They want to keep you in the hospital mainly because they need to give you injections of anti-biotics(spl) so that your finger doesnt get infected.

That's what happened when I had my operation on my ankle but I was only in the hospital for 3 days after my operation of putting in a metal plate and 5 screws into my bone.

Fingers seem to take longer for some odd reason.

Tendons are i guess more serious than the bones.

esetters21 · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Location: Seoul

They wanted to keep you in the hospital for a week? Is that to monitor whether there will be an infection? That seems more like outpatient surgery that would require no more than a day's stay at most. I had my shoulder repaired for similar problems, and that is what kind of stay that required.

Aha, just saw the above post.

mole · Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Location: Act III

Not to be an alarmist, but yeah, don't wait too long and definitely don't blow it off.
As long as you're at a full size reputable hospital you'll likely get world class care, and probably much cheaper than back home.

Just don't go to a community clinic. You'll just get the standard packets of pills and a shot in the bum.

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

Are you in Seoul? It costs more money, but go to the International Clinic at Severance Hospital next to Yonsei Uni. You'll get the best info there.

anyangoldboy · Joined: 28 Sep 2007

Yonsei is expensive so i've heard. I've heard like 600,000won for 9 or so stitches.

So to Samsung Hospital near Irwon station. A bit out of the way but great service.

huffdaddy · Joined: 25 Nov 2005

Kimchi Cha Cha · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: was Suncheon, now Brisbane

halfmanhalfbiscuit · Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Location: Seoul

I cut a tendon to my right ring finger in a game of rugby.Forefinger has 2 tendons,as does the pinky.This was almost 20 years ago.Tendons are like rubber bands and it had pinged back up into my wrist somewhere.They just switched one over from the pinky.

I don't play the piano and try to avoid putting excessive strain on it,but it's clearly not the same as the other hand.It doesn't cause me any problems though.

To stay in hospital for a week could be an attempt to price gouge.

How does it feel?Isn't it covered by your Korean health insurance?You've had 2 opinions.get one more.They showed you X-Rays?