Start with function, not the operation name
Surgeons assess hand problems by what the hand can and cannot do, not by the label a patient arrives with. Before the appointment, write down the tasks that matter to you: gripping a cup, buttoning a shirt, typing, lifting a child, returning to a specific job, holding a tool. Note which of these you have lost and which are painful or unreliable. This gives the surgeon a functional baseline that imaging alone cannot provide.
Describe the injury or problem in plain sequence. When did it happen or when did symptoms begin? Was there a cut, crush, fall, sports injury or surgery already? What treatment have you had so far, including splints, therapy or previous operations? If you have had an injury, say whether it was open or closed, and whether any wound was cleaned and repaired at the time. These details shape what the surgeon examines and what they may need to confirm.
Bring your main question in one sentence. Examples: Can this tendon be repaired, and what function might return? Is the problem in the tendon, nerve or joint? Would therapy alone be reasonable first? A single clear question keeps the discussion focused and makes the surgeon's answer easier to act on.
Bring records that show the injury and the repair
Hand and microsurgery decisions depend heavily on the original injury and any previous repair. Gather whatever exists: emergency records, operation notes, discharge summaries, clinic letters, imaging reports and photographs of the hand at different stages. If you have had an MRI, ultrasound or X-ray, bring the images or a disc, not only the written report. If you have had previous surgery, the operation note describing what was repaired and how is more useful than a summary that only names the procedure.
If some records are missing, do not delay assessment. Tell the receiving team what is unavailable and ask whether they need it before or after the visit. A missing operation note may mean the surgeon has to rely more on examination and imaging, and they should tell you what that means for their confidence in the plan. Do not assume a complete archive is required before anyone will see you.
Keep a one-page timeline: date, event, treatment, treating facility. This is faster for a clinician to read than a folder of loose papers and helps you answer questions without searching. Bring the original documents plus a copy, and keep digital scans on your phone as backup.
Ask how surgery, hand therapy and follow-up would be sequenced
Hand tendon repair treats damaged tendons, and follow-up therapy may form part of the individual care plan. The exact sequence, timing and intensity depend on the injury, the repair and the surgeon's assessment. Ask directly: If surgery is recommended, what would the therapy plan look like afterwards, who provides it, and how would my progress be checked? Ask whether therapy would begin in hospital, after discharge, or in a separate clinic, and how communication between the surgeon and therapist would work.
Ask what the repair is intended to achieve and what it cannot. A surgeon may be able to restore continuity of a tendon but cannot guarantee full movement, strength or sensation. Ask about the main risks in your case, including stiffness, adhesion, infection, rupture or the need for further surgery. Ask what warning signs should prompt you to seek urgent review. You are not asking for a guarantee; you are asking for an honest picture of uncertainty.
Ask how follow-up would be arranged if you return home. Would remote review be possible, and what records would the local clinician need? Would the surgeon provide a written plan that a therapist elsewhere could follow? These questions matter because hand rehabilitation is often long and local follow-up may be more practical than repeated international travel.
Clarify what the written plan and estimate include
Before you commit to treatment, ask the hospital for a written plan that separates the clinical recommendation from the financial estimate. The plan should state the proposed procedure, the intended ward type, the expected length of stay and the follow-up arrangements. The estimate should show what is included, what is excluded and what remains undecided until further assessment. Ask the named provider how its estimate is structured rather than assuming a standard format.
Ask specifically about items that are easy to overlook: imaging and tests before surgery, implants or microsurgical instruments if relevant, therapy sessions, medicines, ward and nursing care, and review appointments. If an item is not listed, ask whether it is included, excluded or still to be determined. Do not assume that a quoted figure covers everything, and do not assume that every hospital bills the same way.
Keep coordination fees separate from hospital charges in your own notes. If you use an intermediary for appointment requests, interpretation or practical support, ask for a written scope of what that fee covers. Hospital fees are paid to the hospital; coordination fees are separate. This distinction helps you compare options without mixing clinical and logistical costs.
Use the consultation to test the plan against your life
A technically sound repair may still be the wrong choice if the rehabilitation schedule cannot fit your work, family or travel situation. Ask how often therapy would be needed, whether it can be done locally, and what would happen if you could not attend as planned. Ask what level of hand use is realistic during recovery and what you should avoid. These are practical questions that belong in the first discussion, not after surgery.
Ask about alternatives. Would a different procedure, a staged approach or non-surgical management be reasonable? What are the trade-offs in your case? If the surgeon recommends surgery, ask why it is preferred over the alternatives and what would change their recommendation. A good consultation should leave you able to explain the plan and its limits in your own words.
If you are unsure after the appointment, it is reasonable to ask for the plan in writing and to seek a second opinion before deciding. A first consultation does not commit you to treatment. The hospital decides suitability, and you decide whether to proceed.
Prepare your questions and take notes
Write five to eight questions in priority order and bring them on paper. Start with the ones that would change your decision: What is the diagnosis or working diagnosis? What does surgery aim to restore? What happens without surgery? What is the therapy plan? What are the main risks? What follow-up is needed and where? What does the written estimate include? Who do I contact with questions afterwards?
During the consultation, ask the clinician to repeat or clarify anything you do not understand. If you are using an interpreter, confirm that they are translating clinical terms accurately and ask them to note the surgeon's exact wording on key points. After the visit, write a short summary while it is fresh: what was recommended, what was uncertain, what the next step is and by when.
If you are considering care in China, you can begin with a brief summary of your situation and main question. An initial enquiry is free and does not require buying a proxy consultation. The team can help identify missing information and suggest the relevant next step, but the treating hospital and licensed clinicians decide diagnosis, suitability and treatment. Do not delay urgent local care for an overseas enquiry.
Sources & scope of this guide
References and official service information relevant to this guide.
This is general planning information and has not been individually reviewed by a doctor. Medical decisions and personal treatment advice come from your treating clinicians.