Clin Asst Prof Xia Zhan William

Dr Xia Zhan William is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon with the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in Singapore General Hospital. He is passionate in providing comprehensive, patient-centred care for patients with shoulder and elbow conditions, ranging from fractures, sports injuries and degenerative diseases, to complex conditions that require revision surgeries. His special clinical interest is in shoulder and elbow joint replacement for arthritis, complex conditions or revision cases; minimally invasive surgery (MIS) arthroscopic key-hole techniques for rotator cuff tear, labral tear or frozen shoulder; surgical fixation and anatomical reconstruction for complex fractures or tendon/ligament injuries.

Dr Xia graduated with Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.,B.S.) in 2011. He started further specialist training in SingHealth Orthopaedic Residency Program in 2014 and received MOH Training Award in the same year. He was awarded the SingHealth Outstanding Resident during his training. He attained his Master of Medicine (Orthopaedic Surgery) from National University of Singapore in 2018, and was subsequently appointed Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery) in 2020. 

Dr Xia completed his one-year fellowship under the Singapore Health Manpower Development Plan (HMDP) Award at the University College London Hospital between October 2023 and September 2024 in London, UK, where he worked with internationally recognised shoulder and elbow surgeons. During the fellowship, he had the privilege of visiting multiple world-renowned medical centres, including the Wrightington Upper Limb Unit, the Reading Shoulder Unit, Geneva University Hospital, Linkoping University Hospital, etc. 

Valuing both competence and compassion, he believes firmly that orthopaedic surgeon plays a key role in improving patients’ quality of life. As such, he is a strong advocate for evidence-based practice and patient-centred care to achieve better outcomes for patients.

Apart from his clinical duties, Dr Xia participates actively in medical research. He has presented widely at various local and international conferences including the prestigious American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Annual Scientific Meeting and the European Society for Surgery of Shoulder and Elbow (SECEC-ESSSE) Congress. He has published in multiple renowned local and international peer-reviewed medical journals, and he was invited to review for several peer-reviewed medical journals. 

Dr Xia is also actively involved in the training and education of residents and medical students, including those from all three local medical schools in Singapore. He was appointed as member of the Clinical Core Faculty for the PGY1 Programme in SingHealth and member of the Physician Faculty for SingHealth Residency. He was awarded as RiSE Awards 2022 – Outstanding Faculty Award.

• ​Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery)
• Ministry of Health, Singapore, Specialist Accreditation in Orthopaedic Surgery
• Master of Medicine (Orthopaedic Surgery)
• Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
• Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery

• Member, Singapore Orthopaedic Association
• Member, AO Trauma
• Member, Singapore Shoulder and Elbow Society
• Member, British Elbow and Shoulder Society
• Member, European Society for Shoulder & Elbow Surgery
• Instructor, Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Course
• Member, Clinical Core Faculty for the PGY1 Programme in SingHealth, Singapore
• Member, Physician Faculty for PGY1 Program, SingHealth Residency

• SingHealth Service With A Heart Award 2024
• Singapore Health Manpower Development Plan (HMDP) Award 2024
• RiSE Awards 2022 – Outstanding Faculty Award
• SingHealth 10 Years Long Service Award 2021
• SingHealth Outstanding Resident Award 2017
• MOH Training Award 2014

1. Xia Z, Takano AM, Sittampalam K, Howe TS. Laparoscopic grasper for intramedullary biopsy: a technique to improve tissue sampling. Singapore Med J. 2014 Aug;55(8):e116-8.
2. Liow MH, Xia Z, Wong MK, Tay KJ, Yeo SJ, Chin PL. Robot-assisted total knee arthroplasty accurately restores the joint line and mechanical axis. A prospective randomised study. J Arthroplasty. 2014 Dec;29(12): 2373-7.
3. Xia Z, Sittampalam K, Howe TS, Lo NN. Successful treatment of solitary intraosseous haemangioma of the femoral neck. Singapore Med J. 2015 Apr;56(4):e65-70.
4. Xia Z, Yew AKS, Zhang TK, Su HCD, Ng YCS, Rikhraj IS. Surgical Correction of Haglund's Triad Using a Central Tendon-Splitting Approach: A Retrospective Outcomes Study. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2017 Nov - Dec;56(6):1132-1138. doi: 10.1053/j.jfas.2017.05.015. Epub 2017 Aug 12.
5. Xia Z, Liow MHL, Goh GS, Chong HC, Lo NN, Yeo SJ. Body mass index changes after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty do not adversely influence patient outcomes. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2017 Sep 6. doi: 10.1007/s00167-017-4703-7.
6. Xia Z, Yew AKS, Zhang TK, Rikhraj IS. Lateral versus central tendon-splitting approach to insertional Achilles tendinopathy: a retrospective study. Singapore Med J. 2019 May 2. doi: 10.11622/smedj.2019038.
7. Don T Koh, Zhan Xia, Zongxian Li, Kae Sian Tay, Shi Ming Tan, Nicholas Yeo, Inderjett S Rikhraj. Elevated Body Mass Index Does Not Adversely Influence the Outcomes of Arthroscopic Treatment for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus. Foot Ankle Orthop. 2022 Jan 21;7(1). doi: 10.1177/2473011421S00285.
8. Koh DTS, Tan MWP, Xia Z, Li Z, Tay KS, Tan SM, Yeo NEM, Rikhraj Singh I. Association of Elevated Body Mass Index and Outcomes of Arthroscopic Treatment for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus. Foot Ankle Orthop. 2022 Jun 12;7(2):24730114221103263. doi: 10.1177/24730114221103263.
9. Joel WA Lim, Z Xia, Joyce SB Koh, TS Howe, Brian P Lee, Bernard F Morrey. Sustained Functionality and Survivorship of the Coonrad-Morrey Linked Elbow Prosthesis is replicated by an Asian Institution with Evolving Indications over Eighteen years. Seminars in Arthroplasty: JSES. 2022 Dec 01;32(4):78-786. Doi: doi.org/10.1053/j.sart.2022.06.002
10. Sim CHS, Heah EJY, Xia Z, et al. A prolonged pandemic impacts the mental health of orthopaedic patients. Proceedings of Singapore Healthcare. 2023 May 22;32:20101058231178380. doi: 10.1177/20101058231178380.
11. Poh JW, Li Z, Koh DTS, Tay KXK, Goh SK, Woo YL, Xia Z. Cannulated compression screws with cable technique leads to a dramatic reduction in patella fracture fixation complications compared to tension band wiring. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2024 Sep 11. doi: 10.1007/s00402-024-05533-w. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39261327.
12. W Z Xia, R E Cortes, K F Chin, C Cobiella, S Lambert. “Idiopathic” adhesive capsulitis is caused by reactivation of latent neurotrophic virus involving peripheral nerves around the shoulder capsule: A hypothesis. Med Hypotheses. 2025 Apr; 197: 111604. doi: doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2025.111604.
13. William Z Xia, A Abukar, H Moosavi, N Nandi, A Rashid. Snapping triceps syndrome: a review of the literature and proposed operative treatment algorithm. JSES Reviews, Reports, and Techniques. 2026 Feb; 6(1): 100580. doi: doi.org/10.1016/j.xrrt.2025.08.017. Epub ahead of print.