We help patients recover function of their limbs.
We achieve this in 3 ways:
- We deliver the best possible care to patients.
- We train doctors from across the world. We do this in hospital and on missions abroad.
- We believe strongly in research as it deepens our understanding of clinical problems and allows us to develop new techniques that will be useful for patients.
The department functions as a team and has been configured for this intent. Within the specialty of Hand Surgery, there are further specialties which concentrate expertise for specific clinical problems.
Our History
The Department of Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery was established in 1991, but its origins date further back.
Dr Robert Pho joined the University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in 1974. Together with Professor P B Chacha, he set up a microsurgical section within the unit, the first in this region. The pioneering team went on to push the frontiers in hand and reconstructive microsurgery, performing the first thumb replantation in Singapore in 1977, the first vascularised fibular transfer in 1978, and the first toe transfer in 1980.
In 1985, the Hand Surgery Unit was officially established at the Singapore General Hospital . When the university staff were moved over to the National University Hospital in 1989, Professor Pho started a Hand division within the discipline of orthopaedic surgery. A new independent Department of Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery was established on 1st December 1991. The founding staff were Professor Robert Pho as Chief, Associate Professor K Satkunanantham and Associate Professor V P Kumar as Consultants, and Mr Kour Anam Kueh as Senior Lecturer / Senior Registrar.
The department was helmed by Associate Professor Lim Beng Hai from 2000 to 2004.
The first fully certified Hand Surgeons to be trained at the department were Dr Looi Kok Poh, followed by Dr Aymeric Lim, the current Chief.
With Professor Pho as a mentor and guide, a new team has been assembled who, together with our team of hand occupational therapists and a specialised hand prosthetist, will continue to develop the specialty of Hand Surgery.
Official opening ceremony of the Department Dec 2nd 1993
L-R: Emeritus Prof R Pho, Emeritus Prof E Tock, Prof Lim Pin, Dr Cheong Siew Keong, Dr Andrew Chew, Prof Satku, Mr AK Kour, Prof P Kumar
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