Hand surgery fellowship guide

Start with the accepted training background

NRMP's Hand Surgery Match page lists orthopaedic, plastic and general surgery residency backgrounds. That match-level statement is not an admission guarantee for every programme or every international qualification. Read the host's additional criteria and ask whether your specific training fits the intended appointment. Keep this check separate from professional registration, visa sponsorship and hospital credentialing.

Compare hand, wrist and broader upper-limb work

Ask which anatomical areas and conditions make up the fellowship's actual rotations. Hand and wrist surgery may overlap with elbow, peripheral nerve, congenital or broader reconstructive work, but the amount varies. A programme titled upper limb may spend meaningful time outside the hand. Request the clinic and operative schedule to understand that balance.

• Elective hand and wrist work
• Trauma and emergency referrals
• Peripheral nerve exposure
• Congenital or paediatric components if offered
• Microsurgery and reconstructive responsibilities

Examine microsurgery access carefully

If microsurgical training is your main goal, ask about supervised laboratory practice, clinical allocation, emergency exposure and assessment. Distinguish observation from assisting and supervised performance. A hospital's replantation service does not by itself promise a case volume to every fellow. Ask how the programme supports learning when relevant emergency cases are infrequent or shared among trainees.

Clarify call, therapy and continuity of care

Find out how emergency duties interact with elective lists and recovery time. Ask how fellows work with hand therapists and follow patients through rehabilitation. A balanced comparison includes decision-making, postoperative review and complication discussions as well as operating. Confirm which responsibilities apply to international or visiting appointments, especially where the role is observational.

Check the current application process

For US searches, use the official NRMP match information and the ASSH fellowship directory alongside programme instructions. Confirm where to submit documents, how to register for matching and which intake is being advertised. Applying to a host and registering with a match service are separate actions when both are required. For other countries, follow the named institutional or society process.

Compare the support needed to complete training

Ask about salary or stipend, professional insurance, leave, registration costs and research support. If fees or funding are unpublished, mark them as requiring confirmation. For a short visit, determine whether its duration can meet your observation goal. For a longer clinical appointment, request the written role, supervision arrangements and all approvals before relying on it for relocation.