Quick answer. Hand surgeons treat conditions and injuries of the hand, wrist and upper limb — including carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, tendon and nerve injuries, fractures, arthritis and sports injuries — with surgery and, often, hand therapy. The Singapore hand surgeons below are grouped by focus. See one for hand or wrist pain, numbness, a lump, stiffness or injury not settling with initial care.
Hand (and upper-limb) surgery treats problems of the hand, wrist, forearm and sometimes the elbow — from common conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger and ganglion cysts to fractures, tendon and nerve injuries, arthritis, and complex reconstruction and microsurgery. Care often combines surgery with hand therapy. The directory below groups Singapore hand surgeons by their main area of focus.
How we compiled this directory
This is an editorial directory, not a ranking or endorsement. We list Hand Surgeons practising in Singapore, grouped by area of focus, compiled from public hospital and clinic listings. Always verify a doctor’s current registration on the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) register, and choose based on your needs, your GP’s referral and your insurance.
Wrist, trauma & fracture / microsurgery
- Assoc Prof Andrew Chin Yuan Hui — Department of Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery (wrist)
- Assoc Prof Lam Wee Leon — Department of Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery (microsurgery / congenital hand)
- Dr Chung Sze-Ryn — Department of Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery (wrist)
- Dr Dawn Chia — Hand Surgery (paediatric hand / peripheral nerve)
- Dr Robert Yap Tze-Jin — Department of Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery (peripheral nerve surgery)
Hand & upper-limb surgery
- Asst Prof Rebecca Lim — Department of Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery
- Dr Camelia Tang Qian Ying — Department of Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery
- Dr Chang Min Kai — Department of Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery
- Dr Darryl Chew Ee Ming — Department of Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery (congenital hand)
- Dr Li Fang — Department of Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery
Common hand and wrist conditions
Some of the most common problems a hand surgeon sees include carpal tunnel syndrome (numbness and tingling in the hand from pressure on a nerve at the wrist), trigger finger (a finger that catches or locks when bent), De Quervain’s tenosynovitis (thumb-side wrist pain, common after pregnancy or repetitive use), ganglion cysts (fluid-filled lumps near a joint or tendon), and arthritis of the hand and wrist, especially at the base of the thumb. Injuries — fractures, tendon cuts and nerve damage — are also a large part of the work. Many of these conditions are first managed without surgery (splints, activity change, therapy or a steroid injection), with surgery reserved for cases that are severe, persistent or not improving.
What a hand surgeon treats, and when to see one
A hand surgeon treats carpal tunnel and other nerve-compression syndromes, trigger finger, ganglion cysts, tendon and nerve injuries, hand and wrist fractures, arthritis of the hand and wrist, and sports and work injuries — as well as complex reconstruction. See one for hand or wrist pain, numbness or tingling, a lump, locking or stiffness of a finger, or an injury not settling with initial treatment. Many patients are referred by a GP, physiotherapist or emergency team.
What to look for when choosing a hand surgeon in Singapore
Look for a surgeon with specific hand/upper-limb training and experience with your condition, access to hand therapy (an important part of recovery), and minimally-invasive options where suitable. Consider the hospital, cost and insurance, and whether non-surgical measures should be tried first for conditions like early carpal tunnel or arthritis. Because hand and wrist function is so central to daily life and work, it is also worth asking about expected recovery time, when you can return to activities, and what rehabilitation will involve.
Public versus private care
Public (restructured) hospitals and private clinics both have experienced Hand Surgeons. Public care is more subsidised and often the route for complex, multidisciplinary cases; private care offers more choice of doctor and shorter waits, at higher cost. Many specialists listed here work in, or trained at, the public institutions. Your GP can refer you either way.
Costs and financing
Many hand procedures are day surgery, sometimes under local or regional anaesthetic. Public-hospital care is subsidised and means-tested, with MediSave and MediShield Life/Integrated Shield plans applying to eligible surgery; private care costs more with more choice and shorter waits. Hand therapy is an added cost. Confirm current fees with the clinic and check insurance for planned surgery.
Common questions
What does a hand surgeon treat?
Conditions and injuries of the hand, wrist and upper limb — including carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, ganglion cysts, tendon and nerve injuries, fractures, arthritis and sports injuries — with surgery and, often, hand therapy.
When should I see a hand surgeon?
For hand or wrist pain, numbness or tingling (for example possible carpal tunnel), a lump, a locking or stiff finger, or an injury that is not settling with initial care. A GP, physiotherapist or emergency team often refers you.
Is surgery always needed for carpal tunnel or trigger finger?
No. Milder cases often improve with splinting, activity changes, or a steroid injection. Surgery is considered when symptoms are persistent, severe or worsening. A hand surgeon can advise whether non-surgical measures or surgery suits you.
Is hand therapy important after surgery?
Yes — hand therapy (by a specialised physiotherapist or occupational therapist) is often a key part of recovery, restoring movement and strength. Access to hand therapy is worth considering when choosing where to be treated.
Is hand surgery covered by MediSave or insurance?
Eligible surgery and inpatient stays can draw on MediSave and MediShield Life/Integrated Shield plans, subject to limits, with subsidised means-tested public-hospital care. Hand therapy is an added cost. Confirm fees with the clinic and check insurance before planned surgery.
Related
This directory is general information, not medical advice or a recommendation of any individual. Details can change — verify registration on the SMC register and confirm specifics with the clinic. See our editorial policy.
Listed here, or want to be? If you are a doctor or clinic featured on this page and would like your entry corrected, updated or removed — or you would like to be added or featured — please reach out to us or use our contact form.