Sherlock examined the location of the lizardman's fracture for a moment, then made a longitudinal incision along the fracture line on the outer side of the arm.
After switching to the sword called "Judgment," which had given Sherlock some trouble before, cutting through the tough scales became much easier.
However, a sword nearly a meter long wasn't exactly ideal for delicate surgery.
So, after opening the scales, Sherlock switched to a small knife to separate the subcutaneous tissue, superficial fascia, and deep fascia, exposing the muscles around the fracture. Then, he carefully navigated through the muscle gaps until he found the fractured bone end.
Vivian had already moved closer to the operating table at some point and watched as Sherlock skillfully sliced through the muscles and fascia with what looked like a fruit knife. Without damaging the muscles, he miraculously opened a pathway and found the broken bone.
For Vivian, who was devoted to magical healing, this was simply mind-blowing.
"So, this is surgery? You found the broken bone, and then what?" Vivian started to feel some anticipation for Sherlock's surgical treatment.
The condition of the fracture was better than Sherlock had expected. It was a displaced fracture but without comminution.
This might be related to the exaggerated defensive power of the lizardman, with its sturdy scales and equally strong bones.
"Hiss... Hiss..." Jack breathed heavily, his teeth grinding.
"Does it hurt?" Sherlock glanced at him.
"N-No... It doesn't hurt," Jack replied, glancing at the black sword beside him, his face filled with despair. He quietly requested, "But doctor, could you knock me out with a blow? Let me pass out."
"Oh, I forgot about anesthesia," Sherlock suddenly realized. But then he thought, the clinic didn't have any anesthesia agents.
The original owner's diary recorded several failed attempts to develop anesthesia agents, including physical anesthesia and alcohol anesthesia.
"Eileen, give him a blow," Sherlock said to Vivian.
"Huh? Oh!" Vivian looked around and rummaged through the toolbox, taking out a hammer.
"Hmm?"
Both Sherlock and Jack were startled.
"Use this."
Sherlock took a large stick and replaced Vivian's righteous hammer.
Vivian gripped the stick and began to indiscriminately strike the lizardman's head.
"You're making him more alert with your blows. Are you giving him a facial massage?" Jack looked at Vivian swinging her reddened hands with a helpless expression.
Vivian looked to Sherlock for help. She couldn't handle this task; after all, she was just a nursemaid.
"Forget it, I'll do it," Sherlock said, taking the wooden stick.
Jack sighed. Was it that the orc couldn't do it, but a human could?
Sherlock raised the stick and struck the lizardman's chin with a blow.
Bang!
A dull thud.
Jack's head tilted, and he passed out.
"Amazing!" Vivian looked at Sherlock in astonishment.
Just now, she did her best, but the lizardman mocked her for giving him a facial massage, while the boss knocked him out with just one blow.
But the boss's strike didn't seem much stronger than hers, right?
"Even when it comes to hitting someone, it's all about science. No matter how thick the skin is, there's always a vulnerable chin," explained Sherlock, drawing from his knowledge of boxing matches.
"Mmm," nodded Vivian repeatedly, feeling like she had gained useful knowledge.
With the patient unconscious, Sherlock disinfected his hands and continued with the surgery.
"Boss, since he's already unconscious, why don't I use my knowledge of magical materials to reconnect his bones?" Vivian suggested quietly.
"No," Sherlock firmly refused.
"Why not? He won't even know," Vivian said, puzzled. It seemed simpler and more efficient this way.
"And how would you explain to him when he wakes up that his broken arm has healed so quickly and without leaving a single scar? And what about future patients who demand the same treatment results? How would I handle that?" Sherlock looked at Vivian, his expression serious. "If you want to settle down safely in the Abyss, you can't leave any loose ends in the outside world. Every merchant on this street knows that I don't perform healing magic; that's a reputation I can't afford to lose."
Vivian was a little scared by Sherlock's sudden seriousness. She shrank her neck and whispered, "I... I just wanted to do more."
Sherlock's expression softened slightly, and he sighed, saying, "Why bother? A worker should have the mindset of a worker. Do as much as you're paid for. If you want to use magic to treat patients, then I'll have to consider giving you a raise, and that would just be a hassle for me."
Vivian nodded thoughtfully, keeping her hands folded, and continued watching Sherlock perform the surgery.
"In reality, surgery isn't as mysterious as you medical students think. As long as you're prepared in all aspects, the results of the surgery can be quite good," Sherlock said as he cleaned the broken bone and then aligned and reconnected the two fractured ends.
The commonly used bone fixation instruments were not available in the clinic, but the previous owner had performed many bone fracture surgeries and had studied alternative materials. He had prepared some unconventional materials.
Sherlock took out a long, slender, snow-white bone from the cabinet. It was a polished leg bone from the unique triangular oxen of the White Grasslands in the southern part of Calwa City.
This thing had a bone-strengthening effect and was usually ground into powder for direct consumption or used to make bone broth.
However, the previous owner discovered that this bone not only made great broth but also worked as an excellent tool for fixing fractures.
First, it had sufficient hardness, and second, it could be absorbed by the body. The absorption time could be controlled by the thickness of the bone, and the absorption process also promotes bone healing. There was no need to remove it later.
This concept was truly ahead of its time.
Being hailed as a once-in-a-century genius in the medical field was not mere boasting.
Sherlock cut two pieces of bone of appropriate length, then used Judgment to make two small holes in the lizardman's bone. He securely fixed the two fractured ends with the bone pieces.
Once everything was confirmed, Sherlock took out the suturing needles he received as a system reward and began suturing the fascia, subcutaneous tissue, and skin layer by layer.
The sharp suturing needles allowed Sherlock to handle the tough muscles and skin of the lizardman with ease, resulting in a perfect suturing job.
When it came to the scales, Sherlock pondered for a moment, poured some hemostatic potion, wrapped it with a breathable cloth, and then took four wooden sticks to make a makeshift splint around his arm for stabilization.
As the saying goes, it takes a hundred days to heal bones and tendons. With the lizardman's physical condition, Sherlock estimated that it wouldn't take more than a few days for his left hand to fully recover.
"Are you done?" Vivian felt like she had witnessed a miraculous surgery, watching Sherlock open the lizardman's arm, find the broken bone, and fix it with the bone pieces, then suture everything back together.
All of this was like a breathtaking performance!
It completely overturned Vivian's worldview that she had shaped over the past decade.
The surgeries her teachers considered unconventional were presented firsthand by Sherlock and looked incredibly reliable.
"Sherlock..." Vivian silently repeated his name in her heart, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Could it be him!"