Frequently Asked Questions

Dr Lai Kah Weng is a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon with MBBS (Singapore), FRCSEd (Ortho) and MMed (Ortho) qualifications. He completed his fellowship at the Sydney Orthopaedic Research Institute in 2014 under knee surgeons Dr Myles Coolican, Dr David Parker, and Dr Brett Fritsch. He was formerly a Consultant at National University Hospital (NUH).

Dr Lai played rugby for Singapore and has 10 international caps. From 2011 to 2021 he was Chief Medical Officer and Medical Director of the Singapore Rugby Union, looking after the national teams. He also holds the Diploma in Aviation Medicine (UK) of King's College London, and in 2002 was the first Singaporean to receive its Stewart Memorial Prize, awarded for graduating top of the course.

Dr Lai's own clinic is Ridge Orthopaedics at Royal Square at Novena (101 Irrawaddy Road, #13-10). He also consults at Paragon Medical Centre (290 Orchard Road), Camden Medical Centre (1 Orchard Boulevard), Mount Alvernia Hospital (820 Thomson Road), and Farrer Park Hospital (1 Farrer Park Station Road). All appointments are booked through Ridge Orthopaedics on 8555 3434.

You can book a consultation with Ridge Orthopaedics by calling +65 8555 3434 or via WhatsApp. The team will help you schedule an appointment at your preferred location. For urgent cases, same-week appointments are often available.

The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is one of the key ligaments that provides stability to your knee. ACL injuries commonly occur during sports that involve sudden stops, jumping, or changes in direction — such as football, basketball, netball, and rugby. The injury often happens when landing from a jump, pivoting, or from direct contact.

Not all ACL tears require surgery. The decision depends on your age, activity level, degree of instability, and goals. Young, active patients who want to return to sports typically benefit from reconstruction. Older patients with lower activity demands may manage well with rehabilitation alone. Dr Lai will assess your specific situation and discuss all options during your consultation.

Dr Lai uses arthroscopic ACL reconstruction, a minimally invasive technique performed through small incisions. He typically uses hamstring autograft (tissue from your own body) or quadriceps tendon, selected based on your anatomy, activity goals, and any previous injuries. The procedure takes approximately 60-90 minutes.

Reconstruction aims to restore stability to the knee so you can return to your activities, including sport. How things go depends on the injury, any damage alongside it, and rehabilitation. Completing a structured rehabilitation programme, with testing before you return to sport, lowers the risk of injuring the knee again. Dr Lai will go through what to expect in your case.

Recovery typically follows this timeline: 2-4 weeks for crutches, 3-4 months to return to light jogging, 6-9 months for return to sports with proper clearance. Full recovery and return to competitive sports usually takes 9-12 months. Dr Lai provides a structured rehabilitation programme and monitors your progress throughout.

Returning to sport is the usual goal of ACL reconstruction. Dr Lai uses objective criteria and functional testing to determine when it's safe to return to sports, typically at 9-12 months post-surgery.

Knee replacement is recommended when conservative treatments (medications, injections, physiotherapy) no longer provide adequate pain relief, and arthritis significantly impacts your daily life. Common signs include persistent knee pain, stiffness, difficulty walking or climbing stairs, and pain that disturbs sleep.

Total knee replacement replaces all three compartments of the knee joint, while partial (unicompartmental) replacement only replaces the damaged portion. Partial replacement preserves more bone and ligaments, potentially offering faster recovery and more natural knee movement. Dr Lai will assess which option is most suitable based on your arthritis pattern.

How long a knee replacement lasts depends on your activity level, weight and the type of implant. Dr Lai will talk you through what to expect for your knee, and regular reviews after surgery help pick up any wear early.

Most patients stay in hospital for 2-3 days after surgery. You'll begin walking with support on the first day after surgery. Most patients can walk without aids by 4-6 weeks and drive by 6-8 weeks. Significant improvement is typically seen by 3 months, with continued improvement up to 1 year.

Rehabilitation is an important part of recovery. This typically includes physiotherapy starting soon after surgery, exercises to restore range of motion and strength, and gradual progression of activities. Dr Lai provides detailed rehabilitation protocols and works with physiotherapists to guide your recovery.

Some discomfort is expected after knee surgery, but it can be controlled. This includes medications, ice therapy, and elevation. Most patients find pain manageable and steadily improving within the first few weeks. Dr Lai will provide appropriate pain management tailored to your needs.