Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2021 Jan;13(1):35-41.
doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1721900. Epub 2021 Feb 28.

Hand Surgery in Thailand

Sunyarn Niempoog  1 , Kiat Witoonchart  2 , Woraphon Jaroenporn  3
Affiliations
Review

Hand Surgery in Thailand

Sunyarn Niempoog et al. J Hand Microsurg. 2021 Jan.

Abstract

Modern hand surgery in Thailand started after the end of World War II. It is divided into 4 phases. In the initial phase (1950-1965), the surgery of the hand was mainly performed by general surgeons. In 1965-1975, which was the second phase, many plastic surgeons and orthopaedic surgeons graduated from foreign countries and came back to Thailand. They played a vital role in the treatment of the surgery of the hand and set up hand units in many centers. They also contributed to the establishment of the "Thai Society for Surgery of the Hand," which still continues to operate. In the third phase (1975-2000), there was a dramatic development of microsurgery because of the rapid economic expansion. There were many replantation, free tissue transfers, and brachial plexus surgeries in traffic and factory-related accidents. The first hand-fellow training program began in 1993. In the fourth phase (since 2000), the number of hand injuries from factory-related accidents began declining. But the injury from traffic accidents had been increasing both in severity and number. Moreover, the diseases of hand that relate to aging and degeneration had been on the rise. Thai hand surgeons have been using several state-of-the-art technologies such as arthroscopic and endoscopic surgery. They are continuing to invent innovations, generating international publications, and frequently being invited as speakers in foreign countries.

Keywords: Thai; Thailand; hand surgery; history; microsurgery.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest None declared.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The first committee of the “Thai Society for Surgery of the Hand.” Surasak Mungsombut, Nakorn Suvanprakorn, Vivat Visuthikosol, Vasant Chongchet, Pongsak Vathana, Charoen Chotigavanish, Chamlong Mungkarndi, and Prateep Bhokakul.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The logo of the Thai Society for Surgery of the Hand.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The logo of The Thai Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
The sample of Thai innovations. ( A ). A knife, ( B ). MiniSURE for small incision carpal tunnel release, ( C ). Metacarpal locking nail with aiming device.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Case of hand surgery in clinical practice at Chularat 3 Hospital.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
The microsurgery course at Thammasat Hospital in 2009.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
The 6th Asia Pacific Federation of Society for Surgery of the Hand (APFSSH) in Bangkok in 2006.
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Thailand’s 1st Brachial Plexus Cadaveric Dissection Course 2012 at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Witoonchart K, Uerpairojkit C, Leechavengvongs S, Thuvasethakul P. Congenital pseudarthrosis of the forearm treated by free vascularized fibular graft: a report of three cases and a review of the literature. J Hand Surg Am. 1999;24(05):1045–1055. - PubMed
    1. Patradul A, Ngarmukos C, Parkpian V. Distal digital replantations and revascularizations. 237 digits in 192 patients. J Hand Surg [Br] 1998;23(05):578–582. - PubMed
    1. Patradul A, Ngarmukos C, Parkpian V, Kitidumrongsook P. Arterialized venous toenail flaps for treating nail loss in the fingers. J Hand Surg [Br] 1999;24(05):519–524. - PubMed
    1. Chalidapong P, Sananpanich K, Klaphajone J. Electromyographic comparison of various exercises to improve elbow flexion following intercostal nerve transfer. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2006;88(05):620–622. - PubMed
    1. Songcharoen P. Brachial plexus injury in Thailand: a report of 520 cases. Microsurgery. 1995;16(01):35–39. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources