Dr Darryl Chew Ee Ming is a hand surgeon in the Department of Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery at Singapore General Hospital. Areas of clinical focus include congenital hand.
Clinical focus
congenital hand.
Qualifications (as publicly listed)
MBBS, MRCSEd, M Med
Where they practise
Darryl Chew Ee Ming practises at Singapore General Hospital, in the Department of Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery. See the official profile linked below for current clinic and appointment details.
About Hand Surgery
Hand surgery is a distinct specialty caring for the hand, wrist, forearm and elbow — and the nerves, tendons, bones and joints within them. Hand surgeons treat conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and other nerve compressions, trigger finger, De Quervain’s and other tendon problems, ganglion cysts, arthritis of the hand and wrist, sports and work injuries, fractures, and traumatic injuries including tendon, nerve and replantation (microsurgery) after severe wounds. Many conditions are managed without surgery — with splints, therapy or injections — and hand therapy is a key part of recovery when an operation is needed. Precise diagnosis matters, as the hand’s small structures are closely packed and vital to everyday function.
Conditions and treatments commonly covered
Areas commonly seen in hand surgery include:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome and nerve compression
- Trigger finger and tendon conditions
- Ganglion cysts
- Hand and wrist arthritis
- Fractures and sports/work injuries
- Traumatic injuries and microsurgery (replantation)
What to expect at a consultation
An initial consultation usually involves a discussion of your symptoms and medical history, a focused examination, and any tests needed to reach a diagnosis. The specialist will explain the findings, walk you through your options — including non-surgical approaches where relevant — and set out the likely costs and next steps before anything proceeds. If a procedure is recommended, it is reasonable to ask what it involves, the expected recovery time, the risks and the alternatives, so you can make an informed decision at your own pace. It helps to keep asking questions until you fully understand the plan.
Preparing for your appointment
- Bring referral letters, past reports, scan images and a list of your current medications.
- Note your main symptoms, when they started and what makes them better or worse.
- Write down the questions that matter most to you, and bring a family member if it helps.
After your consultation and follow-up
Depending on the diagnosis, you may be given medication, referred for further tests or imaging, scheduled for a procedure, or asked to return for review. Ask what warning signs should prompt earlier contact, how to get your results, and who to reach if you have questions between visits. Keeping your own copy of reports makes future care and any second opinion easier.
Costs, subsidies and financing in Singapore
For subsidised care at a public (restructured) hospital, a referral from a GP or polyclinic is generally needed; private specialists can usually be booked directly at full fees. Ask upfront for an estimate covering the consultation, tests and any procedure. Depending on the treatment, you may be able to use MediSave for approved day-surgery and procedures (within set limits), with MediShield Life or an Integrated Shield Plan helping for larger inpatient bills. Purely cosmetic procedures are not claimable. If cost is a concern, it is worth asking whether a subsidised referral is possible, and comparing written estimates between providers before you commit.
How to choose the right hand surgeon in Singapore
Beyond credentials, it helps to match the specialist to your specific problem. Consider whether their sub-specialty fits your condition, how often they manage or operate on cases like yours, which hospital they admit to (and whether it suits your budget and insurance), and how clearly they explain your options and costs. Accreditation can be confirmed on the Register of Specialists and registration on the Singapore Medical Council register. Independent reviews are a useful signal for communication and experience, but weigh them alongside credentials rather than on their own.
Questions worth asking at your first consultation
- Are you an accredited specialist in the area my condition falls under?
- What are my options, including non-surgical or watch-and-wait approaches?
- How often do you treat or perform this, and what are the typical outcomes and risks?
- What is the full estimated cost, and what can I claim through MediSave or insurance?
- Are you comfortable with me seeking a second opinion?
Verifying credentials
In Singapore every practising doctor must be registered with the Singapore Medical Council, and specialists are additionally listed on the Register of Specialists maintained by the Specialist Accreditation Board — you can search both to confirm a doctor’s registration and field. The letters after a name (such as MRCP, FRCS or FAMS) reflect postgraduate training and fellowships, but the key question is simply whether the doctor is an accredited specialist in the area relevant to your care.
When to consider a second opinion
A second opinion is reasonable before major surgery, for a serious or unclear diagnosis, or when a recommended treatment feels aggressive or uncertain. Good specialists welcome it. Bring your reports and scans so the second doctor can assess the same information. You are entitled to a copy of your medical records to take along, and seeking another view will not offend a good specialist.
Common questions
When should I see a hand surgeon?
For hand or wrist numbness and tingling (such as carpal tunnel), a locking or triggering finger, a lump or ganglion, painful arthritis, a fracture, or any significant hand or wrist injury.
Do I always need surgery for hand problems?
No — many conditions improve with splints, hand therapy or injections. Surgery is recommended when these do not help or the problem is severe.
What is hand therapy?
Specialised therapy by trained hand therapists to restore movement, strength and function — often a key part of recovery both before and after hand surgery.
Do I need a referral to see this specialist?
For subsidised care at a public hospital you generally need a GP or polyclinic referral; private specialists can usually be seen directly.
How can I verify a doctor’s credentials?
Check the Singapore Medical Council’s Register of Medical Practitioners, and the Register of Specialists for accredited specialists.
Selected research & publications
Darryl Chew Ee Ming has contributed to peer-reviewed research in hand surgery. A selection of published work:
- Factors Affecting Appearance after Thumb Polydactyly Reconstruction – A Caregiver’s Perspective in an Asian Population — J Hand Surg Asian Pac Vol, 2024
- Suture osteosynthesis in the bony reconstruction of thumb duplication — J Hand Surg Eur Vol, 2021
- The natural history of paediatric trigger thumbs. A prospective cohort study — J Hand Surg Eur Vol, 2025
- Flexor Tendon Rupture after One Corticosteroid Injection in the Treatment of Trigger Finger: A Case Report and Literature Review — J Hand Surg Asian Pac Vol, 2026
- Revisiting the terminology of end-to-side neurorrhaphy — J Hand Surg Eur Vol, 2024
- An assessment of 2 objective measurements of web space position — J Hand Surg Am, 2015
Related guides
Sources & verification
Profile details are summarised from the doctor’s official listing (official profile). Registration can be verified on the Singapore Medical Council’s Register of Medical Practitioners, and specialist accreditation on the Register of Specialists.
General information only, not medical advice. Details may change — confirm current clinic, availability and fees with the provider.
See also: our editorial directory of hand surgeons in Singapore.
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