What the China surgeon needs to hand over
Hand tendon repair treats damaged tendons, and follow-up therapy may form part of the individual care plan. That single sentence hides a lot of variation. The tendon involved, the zone of injury, whether the repair was flexor or extensor, whether other structures such as nerves or vessels were also repaired, and what the surgeon actually did all change what a hand therapist can safely do next. A one-line discharge note saying 'tendon repair, follow up with therapy' is not enough for a therapist who has never seen you.
Before you leave the China hospital, ask the surgical team for a written operative summary in English or with a certified translation. The useful items are: the exact tendon or tendons repaired, the side and digit, the repair technique named in the note, any graft or implant used, any concurrent nerve, artery or fracture work, the wound closure method, and the surgeon's own written instructions on positioning and movement restrictions. If the surgeon used a specific splint or orthosis, ask for its name, the settings, and a photograph of it in place.
You are not asking the surgeon to write a therapy protocol. You are asking for the operative facts and the surgeon's restrictions. The therapist at home decides how to apply them. If the surgeon's note is vague, say so while you are still in China, when the operating team is reachable and the original images are in the same building.
What your home hand therapist needs before accepting the case
A hand therapist who receives a patient two or three weeks after tendon repair in another country is being asked to take on a wound they did not see, a repair they did not perform, and a rehabilitation timeline they did not set. Many will accept the case, but they need enough information to do it responsibly. The therapist's first question is often not 'what exercises?' but 'what exactly was repaired, and what has happened since?'
Prepare a single handover pack. It should contain the operative note, the discharge summary, the name and contact of the China surgeon or their team, the date of surgery, the date of any suture removal or wound check, the current splint or orthosis details, any complications or wound concerns since discharge, and your current medications. Add the contact details of whoever in China can answer a clinical question if the therapist needs clarification.
Ask the therapist directly: what records do you need before you can assess me, and what is your process if something in the China note is unclear? A therapist who says 'send what you have and we will start' may be fine, but a therapist who names the specific documents they want is giving you a clearer path. Either way, the therapist's independent judgement applies. They are not obliged to follow the China surgeon's preferences if those preferences conflict with their own assessment or with local standards.
The communication question: who talks to whom
Cross-border clinical communication is rarely automatic. The China surgeon's team may not have a routine channel to a therapist in your home country, and the therapist may not have time to chase a hospital in another time zone. Do not assume a fax, email or portal message will be answered. Ask both sides what they are willing to do and put it in writing.
The practical options are: a direct email introduction between the surgeon's team and the therapist, a written summary that you carry and hand over, or a scheduled call if both sides agree. If a call is arranged, confirm the time zone, the language, and who will be on the line. If interpretation is needed, arrange it in advance rather than improvising on the day.
One question worth asking the China team before discharge: if my therapist has a question about the repair, who should they contact, and how quickly can they expect a reply? You are not asking for a guarantee. You are asking for a named contact and a realistic expectation. If no one can answer, that is useful information for your planning.
Unresolved results and what to do about them
Sometimes a test result, a wound culture, a pathology report or an imaging review is still pending when you leave China. Ask the hospital how that result will reach you, in what format, and whether an English version is available. Ask whether the result will be sent to you directly or to a clinician, and whether your home therapist can receive a copy. Do not assume a portal or app will work from your home country.
If a result is abnormal or needs action, the question is who acts on it. The China team may recommend a specific follow-up, but the clinician who can actually see you is your home doctor or therapist. Ask the China team to write down what the result means in plain terms and what they recommend, so your home clinician can decide how to proceed. A result without an interpretation is not a handover.
If you are unsure whether a result matters, ask the China team directly: does this change what my therapist should do in the next few weeks? If the answer is unclear, ask them to put their recommendation in writing. Your home therapist can then confirm whether they agree.
What the receiving clinician decides, and what you should not assume
Your home hand therapist decides what therapy you receive. They assess your hand, your wound, your movement, your pain and your function. They may agree with the China surgeon's restrictions, modify them, or ask for more information. They may also recommend a review by a local hand surgeon if something does not look right. None of this means the China surgery was wrong. It means the therapist is doing their job.
Do not assume the China surgeon's protocol will be accepted unchanged. Do not assume your therapist will start therapy on a specific date because the China note says so. Do not assume the China team will be available for ongoing questions. Each of these is a question to confirm, not a fact to rely on.
Equally, do not assume your therapist cannot help because they did not perform the surgery. A hand therapist who has the operative note, the restrictions and a clear contact for questions is in a reasonable position to assess you. The key is that they have enough information to make their own judgement, and that you have told them what you know.
A practical handover checklist and next step
Before you leave China, gather the operative note, discharge summary, splint details, medication list, wound care instructions, pending results and a named clinical contact. Ask the surgeon's team to write down their movement and positioning restrictions in plain language, and to state whether those restrictions are fixed or may be adjusted by a therapist. Ask what they want your therapist to know that is not in the standard note.
At home, contact a hand therapist before your first appointment and ask what they need. Send the handover pack. Ask whether they want a direct introduction to the China team. Confirm the first appointment date and what will happen at it. If the therapist asks for something you do not have, go back to the China team while the request is fresh.
If you are still planning care in China and want help organising the surgical records and a therapy handover, ChinaSpecialistCare can coordinate the non-clinical side: matching you with a hand and microsurgery team, arranging appointments, and helping you prepare the documents your home therapist will need. An initial enquiry is free and does not commit you to a proxy consultation. The hospital decides whether your case is suitable for treatment, and your home therapist decides what therapy you receive.
- Operative note naming the exact tendon, digit, side and repair technique
- Discharge summary with dates of surgery, wound check and suture removal
- Splint or orthosis name, settings and a photograph in place
- Written movement and positioning restrictions from the China surgeon
- Pending results and how they will reach you and your therapist
- Named clinical contact in China and expected response route
- Your home therapist's written confirmation of what they can accept
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.