How to choose an orthopaedic surgeon 2026: what orthopaedics deals with, checking specialist registration, public and private fees and waiting, insurance

What does an orthopaedic surgeon treat?

Orthopaedics treats diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system with medication and surgery, covering trauma, the spine, paediatric orthopaedics, adult joint reconstruction, hand and microsurgery, bone tumours, sports medicine and orthopaedic rehabilitation, and comes under the Hong Kong College of Orthopaedic Surgeons (Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, Specialty Descriptions, April 2025); the specialty name on the Medical Council's register is Orthopaedics & Traumatology (S08); see Orthopaedics & Traumatology: English name and code.

Which doctor follows up a bone or joint problem is decided by the treating doctor according to the condition.

Do low back pain and knee joint degeneration need an orthopaedic surgeon?

Non-specific low back pain is managed first mainly with explanation, reassurance and self-management; with red-flag symptoms (such as bladder or bowel incontinence or increasing muscle weakness), or no improvement after treatment, referral to a specialist can be considered, and the Framework does not name a specialty (Primary Healthcare Commission, Hong Kong Reference Framework for Common Musculoskeletal Problems, 2022, for primary care settings).

Education and self-management, activity modification, exercise, and weight loss for those who are overweight are the first-line non-drug treatments for all patients with knee osteoarthritis, followed by drug treatment and referral for surgery and rehabilitation (Primary Healthcare Commission, Hong Kong Reference Framework for Common Musculoskeletal Problems, 2022, for primary care settings).

How do I check whether a doctor is a specialist in orthopaedics?

On the Medical Council of Hong Kong website, selecting ‘Orthopaedics & Traumatology’ (S08) in the Specialist Register opens the list of doctors registered in that specialty; a search by name shows the specialty and specialist registration number in the specialist registration field of the doctor's record. For the steps, see how to check a doctor's registration and specialty.

Doctors can present themselves as specialists only if they are on the Specialist Register, and can use only the title of the specialty in which they are registered (Medical Council, Code of Professional Conduct for the Guidance of Registered Medical Practitioners, section 7, October 2022 revised edition).

For what the qualification abbreviations on a doctor's business card mean, see what FHKAM means.

How do I get a referral to public orthopaedics? Can I book a private orthopaedic surgeon directly?

The eight specialties for which the Hospital Authority regularly publishes new-case waiting times include Orthopaedics & Traumatology. To book a new-case appointment at a Hospital Authority specialist outpatient clinic, you need a referral letter issued within the past three months by a locally registered doctor; one from a private doctor is also accepted. Compiled by this site: for a private specialist, you can ask the hospital or clinic directly how to book; if you use medical insurance, whether a referral letter or pre-approval is needed depends on the policy terms, and you can ask the insurer first.

‘Eligible persons’ in the table mainly means holders of a Hong Kong Identity Card and children under 11 who are Hong Kong residents; for details, see the 2026 public healthcare fee reform.

For consultation fees at each institution, see private orthopaedic fees compared; for booking steps, see how to book a public specialist outpatient clinic; for a general comparison of the two routes, see public or private for a specialist.

If the condition gets worse while waiting, you can contact the specialist outpatient clinic and ask for an earlier appointment; in an emergency, go to Accident & Emergency.

How long is the wait for public orthopaedics?

From October 2025 to September 2026, the median waiting time for stable new cases in Hospital Authority orthopaedics was 22 to 43 weeks (about 5 to 10 months) across the seven hospital clusters (under the former boundaries); the data are next due to be updated on 29 January 2027. For each cluster's figures, see public waiting times for orthopaedics.

Roughly how much does an MRI scan cost?

Compiled by this site: of the private hospitals and medical centres this site checked, 11 publish a fee for a plain (non-contrast) MRI of one spinal region, from HK$5,500 (Evangel Hospital, lumbar spine) to HK$10,120 (Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, outpatient/general ward price), on different pricing bases (outpatient, standard room or single charge); for each hospital's fees, see MRI fees compared.

In public hospitals, MRI is an Advanced item among non-urgent radiology services, and from 1 January 2026 eligible persons pay HK$500 per item (Hospital Authority Chief Executive, March 2025).

Which examination to have is decided by the doctor according to the situation; routine imaging is not recommended for low back pain unless the result could change management (Primary Healthcare Commission, Hong Kong Reference Framework for Common Musculoskeletal Problems, 2022, for primary care settings).

How do I compare hospitals and medical centres?

When comparing, look at the same item on the same basis. Private hospitals must keep a fee schedule covering all chargeable items, and patients have the right to know the charges before treatment (Department of Health, Code of Practice for Private Hospitals, July 2026).

For each private hospital's fees, see private hospital fees.

What should I check when using medical insurance for an orthopaedic surgeon?

Before seeing a private specialist, confirm three things with the insurer: whether the policy covers specialist outpatient visits, whether it is limited to a designated medical network, and whether a referral letter or pre-approval is needed; see Using medical insurance for a private specialist.

The Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme covers only individual indemnity hospital insurance; outpatient insurance is outside the Scheme. The Standard Plan covers up to 1 outpatient or emergency consultation before a hospital stay or day surgery, and up to 3 follow-up outpatient visits within 90 days after discharge or day surgery, which must be directly related to the illness or injury requiring the hospital stay or day surgery, at HK$580 per visit and HK$3,000 per policy year (Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme, Standard Plan policy template, July 2022).

Some insurers offer pre-approval (commonly called ‘免找數’): if both the policy and the hospital offer direct billing, you can apply to the insurer before admission and the insurer pays the hospital directly; the approved amount is an estimate, and before discharge you still pay charges not listed in the ‘letter of guarantee’, such as the deductible, co-payment and items outside the cover (Insurance Authority, January 2024); see Medical insurance pre-approval.

What should I ask before booking, and what should I bring to the first visit?

Is the doctor listed under Orthopaedics & Traumatology (S08) on the Medical Council's Specialist Register?

How much are the first consultation and a follow-up? What grade is the doctor?

Does the consultation fee include medicines? What tests might be needed this time, and roughly how much will they cost?

Do you accept my medical insurance, can you bill the insurer directly, and is a referral letter or pre-approval needed?

If a procedure or hospital stay is needed later, can you give a budget estimate first?

What to bring: the referral letter (if any), previous test reports and a list of the medicines you are taking; see what to prepare before seeing a specialist.

Bone or joint problems: when should I call 999 or go to A&E straight away?

If you feel it is an emergency, call 999 straight away. The situations in which this site suggests calling 999, with the source for each, are listed in Why do we suggest calling 999?.

If it is not urgent and you are not sure whether you need an orthopaedic surgeon, you can see a family doctor first; which specialty to be referred to is decided by the attending doctor according to your condition.

Frequently asked questions