GET PROFESSIONAL CARE FOR YOUR ORTHOPEDIC NEEDS FROM
DR. ANDREW QUOC DUTTON
A HARVARD FELLOWSHIP-TRAINED ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON

GET PROFESSIONAL CARE FOR
YOUR ORTHOPEDIC NEEDS FROM
DR. ANDREW QUOC DUTTON
A HARVARD FELLOWSHIP-TRAINED
AUSTRALIAN ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON
COMPLEX ARTHROSCOPIC
AND RECONSTRUCTIVE
JOINT SURGERIES
We may take our hips, knees and shoulders for granted, but even the slightest injury or disorder within them can affect our daily lives to such an extent as to make even the simplest activities practically impossible.
Entrust the care of these complex surgeries for joint reconstruction to a Harvard Fellowship-trained Orthopaedic Surgeon. A/Professor Andrew Quoc Dutton has over 20 years of professional experience since his graduation from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. He is also trained in complex surgeries at the Harvard Medical School in Boston, USA.
A/Professor Dutton has cared for patients at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University in the US, as well as at the Prince of Wales Hospital and the St. George Hospital in Australia. He is now based at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Singapore.
Presently, A/Professor Dutton offers insight, skills, and experience in orthopaedic surgery to students at the National University of Singapore.
• Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, National University of Singapore (NUS)
• Senior Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
• Fellow of Harvard Orthopaedic Surgery
• Australian Medical Association Member
• Founding Vice President ASEAN Society of Sports and Arthroscopy
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Arthroscopy Association of North America
• American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons
• International Society for Hip Arthroscopy



Our Services
Comprehensive services include diagnosis and both surgical and non-surgical treatment of bone, muscle and joint conditions.
Get help for pain and conditions such as osteoarthritis, osteonecrosis, instability and dislocation. Explore treatment options such as arthroscopy, cartilage regeneration and ligament reconstruction. Move toward a full recovery from overuse and traumatic sports injuries.
Clinic Hour: 9:00AM- 6:00PM
Clinic Address: 3 Mt Elizabeth Medical Centre, Level 12. Suite 12-10, Singapore 228510
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
How is knee pain treated?
Source: Knee Pain Treatment
How are sprains and strains treated?
The R.I.C.E. method typically helps with symptoms like pain and inflammation, and it is important that it is administered during the first 24-72 hours after you sustained the injury. It stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
Source: Traumatic Sports Injuries: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments
When should I be worried about lower back pain?
If your lower back pain is accompanied by other troubling symptoms, it may require immediate medical attention. Severe back pain might be a sign of a more serious underlying medical emergency.
Pain can sometimes be a red herring because the sensation may radiate to or from other areas. Its distribution has often led to confusion in healthcare workers. Therefore, to properly diagnose the cause behind hip pain, it’s not enough to focus on the ball-and-socket joint alone, but also on its surrounding areas.
Source: Where Is This Pain Coming From? [Troubleshooting Hip Bone Pain]
How do I know if my knee pain is serious?
You will know that you are dealing with a serious knee injury when knee movement is impaired or impossible. If the severity of knee pain is also increasing in intensity, you must get it checked as soon as possible.
Source: The Real Score on Knee Pain
What are the best exercises for lower back pain?
Here are general tips for stretching to relieve back pain:
- Wear comfortable clothing that won’t bend or constrict movements
- Do not force the body into difficult or painful positions—stretching should be pain free
- Move into a stretch slowly and avoid bouncing, which can cause muscle strain
- Stretch on a clean, flat surface that is large enough to move freely
- Hold stretches long enough (15 to 30 seconds) to adequately lengthen muscles and improve range of motion
- Repeat a stretch between 2 and 5 times—a muscle usually reaches maximum elongation after about 4 repetitions
Stretch one side of the body at a time
Specific exercises should be given by your doctor after a thorough evaluation of your case. This is to ensure that you avoid undue strain what could potentially expose you to further injury.
Source: Stretching for Back Pain Relief
How long does it take for a sprained ankle to heal?
It usually takes 5 to 14 days to recover from a grade one ankle sprain. This is when slight stretching and damage occurs to the ligaments. With a grade one sprain, there is slight instability, pain, swelling, joint stiffness and trouble walking.
Grade two sprains can take 4 to 6 weeks to heal. This involves partial tearing of the ligaments. Signs of a grade two sprain include instability, moderate to severe pain, swelling, stiffness and possible bruising.
Grade three sprains can take 8 to 12 weeks to heal. This is a complete tear of the ligament. With grade three sprains, there is a lot of instability within the joint, severe pain when the injury occurs and no pain after injury, severe swelling and excessive bruising.
Source: How long does it take to recover from a sprained ankle?
What is the best exercise for shoulder pain?
There are effective exercises that can help relieve shoulder pain. These include the following:
Pendulum. You do this by leaning over and supporting your non-injured arm with a table or chair. Allow the sore arm to dangle straight down and then draw circles in the air. The circles should start out small but gradually grow, and you should also reverse direction periodically. Repeat this exercise 5 to 10 times throughout the day.
Arm across the chest. To do this stretch, hold your right hand out in front of your body, keeping it near the waist. Then reach the left hand behind the elbow while pulling the right arm to the left and across the chest. Lower the arm until the pain lessens. Hold in this position for 30 to 50 seconds and then release. Repeat this stretch 3 to 5 times.
Neck release. While sitting up straight, slowly tilt the chin toward the chest until the stretch can be felt in the back of the neck. Then lean your head toward the left to stretch the right shoulder, or conversely lean to the right to stretch the left shoulder. The stretch should be held for a minute on each side. Try breathing deeply to help relax and maximize the stretch.
Chest expansion. For this exercise you’ll need an exercise band, rope, strap or a tie. Take one of these items and hold it behind your back while grasping with both hands. Move the shoulder blades toward one another and gently lift your chin toward the ceiling. Hold for 10 to 15 seconds while breathing deeply. Do this 3 to 5 times.
Source: 4 Effective Exercises and Stretches to Relieve Shoulder Pain
When should I see a doctor for my hip pain?
You must approach your doctor if you experience
- Persistent pain
- Intense pain
- Swelling/ sudden swelling
- Redness
- Warmth around the joint
- Hip pain at night or when you are resting
- Inability to move your leg or hip
- Inability to bear weight on the affected leg
Is walking good for hip pain?
Walking is a good way to begin the transition from inactivity to activity—even if you have arthritis in a weight-bearing joint like your knee or hip. Walking is a simple and low-impact activity that can help relieve arthritis pain, stiffness, and swelling.
Source: Walking: The Best Way to Start Getting Active with Arthritis
How are ACL injuries treated?
ACL injuries can be treated using non-invasive and invasive treatments.
Non-surgical interventions may include progressive physical therapy and rehabilitation to restore the knee to a condition close to its pre-injury state. Your doctor will also educate you on how to prevent instability. This may be supplemented with the use of a hinged knee brace.
Surgical treatment is usually advised in dealing with combined injuries (ACL tears in combination with other injuries in the knee). However, deciding against surgery is reasonable for select patients.
How do you treat rotator cuff pain in the shoulder?
There are different types of treatment for rotator cuff pain. It can include the following measures:
- Applying hot or cold packs to the affected shoulder to reduce swelling
- Exercises to restore strength and range of motion
- Injecting the affected area with cortisone, a steroid that helps to reduce inflammation
- Resting the affected arm and wearing a sling to isolate arm motions
- Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen and naproxen
In some cases, surgical intervention may be necessary. This will be considered a plausible option in the following circumstances:
- Your symptoms have lasted 6 to 12 months
- You have a large tear (more than 3 cm) and the quality of the surrounding tissue is good
- You have significant weakness and loss of function in your shoulder
- Your tear was caused by a recent, acute injury
Source: Rotator Cuff Tears
What happens during an MRI of the knee?
- MRI exams may be done on an outpatient basis.
- You will be positioned on the moveable exam table. Straps and bolsters may be used to help you stay still and maintain your position.
- Small devices that contain coils that send and receive radiofrequency pulses may be placed around your knee to help improve image quality.
- While some orthopaedic surgeons may use IV lines and contrast for MRIs, we don’t do so for this purpose.
- When the exam is complete, you may be asked to wait while the radiologist checks the images in case more are needed.
- The entire exam is usually completed in 45 minutes.
Source: What is Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the Knee
A/Professor Andrew Quoc Dutton Orthopedic & Sports Clinic Insurance Partners
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