Featured in The Straits Times: Dr Jerry Chen on ERAS and Less Invasive Techniques for Faster Surgical Recovery

Published as part of a Straits Times feature on Gleneagles Hospital’s approach to enhanced surgical recovery (April 2026)

Dr Jerry Chen is featured in a recent Straits Times article on how ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) is helping patients recover faster after surgery.

ERAS: A Faster Path Back to Mobility

Patients are going home sooner and recovering with less pain and disruption to their daily lives, thanks to a structured programme called Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS).

ERAS brings surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, physiotherapists and dietitians together around a single recovery plan for each patient, one that starts well before the operation itself, with preparation such as strength-building exercises, nutrition planning, and clear expectations about what recovery will involve.

ERAS is originally used for total knee replacement, the programme has since been extended to total hip replacements and selected procedures in other specialities, reflecting how central this coordinated approach has become to surgical care at the hospital.

Dr Jerry Chen is one of the pioneers of this programme. An orthopaedic surgeon, formerly of Singapore General Hospital (SGH), he spearheaded the ERAS workgroup for knee replacements and is highly recognised for successfully using ERAS to transition total knee and hip replacements to same-day procedures.

Dr Jerry’s Insights on Hip and Knee Surgery

In the article, he discussed the direct anterior approach to total hip replacement, a method that accesses the hip joint from the front through a small incision, working between the muscles rather than cutting or detaching them, as is often necessary with more traditional approaches.

By keeping the surrounding muscles intact, many patients are able to put aside walking aids sooner, with some taking meaningfully more steps within just two weeks of surgery. For many, this translates into a real difference in quality of life. A number of patients have returned to sports and recreational activities they enjoy, including golf and racket sports, well ahead of the timelines associated with more traditional surgery.

Dr Jerry also spoke about knee preservation surgery in the piece, an option offered to younger patients with early knee degeneration. Rather than moving straight to a total knee replacement, this can involve realigning the joint, repairing cartilage or ligaments, and improving how the joint absorbs shock and moves. Done at the right time, it can delay or in some cases avoid the need for a full knee replacement later on.

Why This Matters

None of this happens in isolation. Less invasive surgical techniques work hand in hand with programmes like ERAS and the hospital’s expanding range of day surgery options. Together, they’re changing what patients can expect from surgery: less time in hospital, less pain, and a faster, safer return to the things they enjoy.

Read the full Straits Times feature: “Supporting earlier discharge: How this hospital is improving surgical recovery for patients”

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Dr Jerry Chen

MBBS (S’pore), MRCSEd, MMed (Ortho), FRCSEd (Ortho)

Fellowship-trained Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon & Medical Director

Before starting Alps Orthopaedic Centre, Dr Jerry Chen was a Consultant at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), where he accumulated over 13 years of experience in Orthopaedic Surgery.
Dr Chen spearheaded the workgroup for Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) for hip and knee replacement surgeries at SGH, where he successfully employed ERAS, benefiting more than 2,000 patients thus far.
Having performed over 500 surgeries in a year, he has been instrumental in helping numerous patients recover from injuries and diseases and return to their active lifestyles.
His clinical interests include Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) for Hip and Knee, Sports Injuries, Minimally Invasive Surgery and Robotic Surgery.

Why Alps Orthopaedic Centre?

At Alps Orthopaedic Centre, we specialise in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS). Performed as a Day Surgery, the ERAS Direct Anterior Approach in Total Hip Replacement (THR) technique as well as ERAS Total Knee Replacement (TKR), reduces the average hospitalisation stay, utilising techniques which enable the patient to suffer from less pain and recover faster. We are an Orthopaedic clinic in Singapore, which specialises in ERAS and do our utmost to enable patients to return to everyday activities as early as possible.

Our Orthopaedic clinic provides specialised diagnosis and effective treatment of musculoskeletal problems, especially Day Surgery / Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) For Hip and Knee Surgery, Sports Injuries and Trauma Fractures. If you are considering hip or knee surgery or minimally invasive treatments, book an appointment with our experienced Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr Jerry Chen, for a thorough assessment and treatment plan.

Our aim is to boost patient well-being, optimising every aspect of the surgical journey. By minimising the recovery period, patients are able to go back to activities that they love. The Alps team offers comprehensive financial counselling sessions to ensure our patients understand their options and make informed decisions regarding their treatment plans.

Has this article been insightful? Share it!

Dr Jerry Chen

MBBS (S’pore), MRCSEd, MMed (Ortho), FRCSEd (Ortho)

Fellowship-trained Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon & Medical Director

Before starting Alps Orthopaedic Centre, Dr Jerry Chen was a Consultant at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), where he accumulated over 13 years of experience in Orthopaedic Surgery.
Dr Chen spearheaded the workgroup for Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) for hip and knee replacement surgeries at SGH, where he successfully employed ERAS, benefiting more than 2,000 patients thus far.
Having performed over 500 surgeries in a year, he has been instrumental in helping numerous patients recover from injuries and diseases and return to their active lifestyles.
His clinical interests include Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) for Hip and Knee, Sports Injuries, Minimally Invasive Surgery and Robotic Surgery.

Why Alps Orthopaedic Centre?

Has this article been insightful? Share it!

Dr Jerry Chen

MBBS (S’pore), MRCSEd, MMed (Ortho), FRCSEd (Ortho)

Fellowship-trained Senior Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon & Medical Director

Before starting Alps Orthopaedic Centre, Dr Jerry Chen was a Consultant at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), where he accumulated over 15 years of experience in Orthopaedic Surgery.
Having performed over 500 surgeries in a year, he has been instrumental in helping numerous patients recover from injuries and diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
As a driven and valued member, Dr Chen spearheaded the workgroup for Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) for hip and knee replacement surgeries at SGH.
Over the course of his career at SGH, Dr Chen has successfully employed ERAS and reduced the average hospitalisation stay for hip and knee replacement surgeries.
Going through these ERAS day surgeries has benefited more than 2,000 patients thus far, enabling them to suffer from less pain and recover faster.
The Alps team is committed to providing specialised orthopaedic care tailored to your unique condition. We offer comprehensive financial counselling sessions to ensure our patients understand their options and make informed decisions regarding their treatment plans.

Why Alps Orthopaedic Centre?

Our Orthopaedic clinic provides specialised diagnosis and effective treatment of musculoskeletal problems, especially Day Surgery / Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) For Hip and Knee Surgery, Sports Injuries and Trauma Fractures. If you are considering hip or knee surgery or minimally invasive treatments, book an appointment with our experienced Senior Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr Jerry Chen, for a thorough assessment and treatment plan.