Wrist + Hand Institute Perth

About Wrist + Hand Institute

We combine medical expertise with genuine care for patients. Here’s what you can expect from us.

At the Wrist + Hand Institute Perth, our story is about people: world-recognised surgeons, a team that works together collaboratively, and the patients we care for. This page introduces who we are and what makes our surgical practice unique.

Leaders in wrist and hand surgery

Global expertise, local access, and care tailored to you.

World-recognised surgical expertise

Our surgeons are leaders in advanced wrist and hand surgery, and known internationally  for pioneering techniques in arthroscopy, TFCC repair, scaphoid non-union surgery and minimally invasive nerve decompression. Their work has been published in respected journals and presented worldwide.

Comprehensive, patient-centred care

We treat the full range of hand and wrist problems, from fractures and trauma through to arthritis, tendon conditions and nerve compression. Every patient receives a tailored plan, supported by close collaboration with specially-trained hand therapists to restore movement, strength and function.

Multiple locations and hospital partnerships

With consulting rooms across Perth, patients can access care closer to home. Our team consults in Claremont, South Perth, Edgewater, Midland, Osborne Park, Cockburn and Rockingham, and operates at leading Perth hospitals including Bethesda Hospital, Hollywood Hospital, St John of God Mt Lawley, South Perth Hospital and Sundew Day Surgery.

No referral, no problem

Our in-house registered nurse practitioner can assess, triage and refer you over the phone with no out-of-pocket expense if you are Medicare-eligible. This means you can access the treatment you need, faster.

Meet your surgeons

Dr Jeff Ecker

Hand & Wrist Surgeon

Dr David Dyer

Hand & Wrist Surgeon

Dr Humza Khan

Hand & Wrist Surgeon

Dr Macarena Santorcuato

Hand & Wrist Surgeon

Dr Catherine Gilliland

Hand & Wrist Surgeon
Hand and wrist surgeons Perth

Next steps

We’re proud to bring world-class hand and wrist care to patients across Perth and throughout Western Australia. If you’d like to take the next step, book an appointment with one of our wrist and hand surgeons. At your consultation, we’ll talk through your condition, any tests you may need, and the treatment options available to you.

The Wrist + Hand Institute Perth operates at multiple hospitals including Bethesda Hospital (Claremont), Hollywood Hospital, St John of God Mt Lawley, South Perth Hospital and Sundew Day Surgery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to be a global centre of excellence?

The Wrist + Hand Institute is recognised internationally for pioneering minimally invasive wrist and hand surgery. Our surgeons publish in peer-reviewed journals, present at global conferences, and contribute to advancing surgical techniques used worldwide.

What are some of the Institute’s surgical innovations?

Our wrist and hand surgeons have played leading roles in developing new techniques. For example, the world’s first supraretinacular endoscopic carpal tunnel release was performed here; a procedure designed to minimise risk to the median nerve and speed up recovery.

Socials

Dr Macarena Santorcuato

About Dr Santorcuato

Dr Macarena Santorcuato is a Chilean-trained Orthopaedic Surgeon with subspecialty training in Hand and Wrist surgery.

She completed her medical degree at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile in 2017, followed by Orthopaedic Surgery residency training at Universidad del Desarrollo – Clínica Alemana de Santiago in 2021. She subsequently completed a Hand and Microsurgery Fellowship at Clínica Alemana de Santiago and Hospital Clínico Mutual de Seguridad in 2023. Since then, she has been working as a Consultant Hand and Wrist Surgeon in both public and private practice, managing complex hand and wrist trauma and elective cases.

Alongside her clinical practice, Dr Santorcuato remains actively involved in continuing medical education, surgical teaching, and academic activities. She has completed international clinical training in hand and wrist surgery in Madrid, Spain, and continues to participate in research activities and academic conferences, as well as in the mentoring of surgical trainees and fellows.

Outside of medicine, she enjoys a range of outdoor and sporting activities, as well as spending time with family and friends.

Why choose Dr Santorcuato as your hand and wrist surgeon

When choosing a hand and wrist surgeon, you need a specialist who combines world-class precision with a patient-first approach. Dr. Macarena Santorcuato is a dual-specialized Orthopaedic Surgeon with fellowship training in Hand and Microsurgery. Bringing international experience from Chile and Spain to the Wrist Hand Institute Perth, she expertly manages everything from complex trauma to delicate chronic conditions using the latest research-backed techniques.

Beyond her technical skill, Dr. Santorcuato focuses on restoring your independence and quality of life. As an outdoor and sports enthusiast, she understands how vital hand mobility is to your daily routine and hobbies. By combining her extensive public and private clinical experience with a highly personalized touch, she ensures your treatment plan is completely focused on getting you back to doing what you love.

Associations

  • Pontificia Universidad
  • Católica de Chile
  • Universidad del Desarrollo, Chile
  • Chilean Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology (SCHOT)
  • Chilean Society of Hand and Microsurgery
  • Medical College of Chile

Dr Catherine Gilliland

About Dr Gilliland

Dr Gilliland is a UK-trained Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon with a subspecialist interest in hand and wrist surgery. She obtained her primary medical degree (MB BCh BAO) from Queen’s University Belfast in 2008. After basic surgical training, which included a year in plastic surgery, she specialised in Trauma and Orthopaedics. During higher surgical training, she completed a Master’s degree in Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery from the University of Edinburgh in 2016. On completion of higher surgical training and specialist registration with the General Medical Council UK, she was elected as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 2023.

Dr Gilliland is also trained in Paediatric Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery and has pursued advanced fellowship training at Perth Children’s Hospital, WA. There, along with general paediatric trauma and orthopaedic experience, she gained invaluable experience in managing specific paediatric upper limb pathology.

Throughout her career, Dr Gilliland has shown a commitment to and enjoyment of teaching and mentoring. She has held clinical tutor positions with Queen’s University Belfast for undergraduate students and with the University of Ulster for postgraduate medical degree students. She developed the undergraduate Orthopaedic Gold Medal examination and has tutored numerous doctors in higher surgical training in preparation for fellowship examinations. She has been commended for mentoring junior doctors through their training and was invited by the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency to be an examiner in selecting candidates for basic surgical training.

Her academic achievements include six peer-reviewed publications, as well as presentations at national and international conferences in Europe and Australia. During higher surgical training, she won the Registrar Prize (Northern Ireland Martin Medal Award), gaining the opportunity to present her work at the British Orthopaedic Association’s “Best of the Best” forum.
Alongside her professional commitments, Dr Gilliland enjoys an active family life and pursues her love of music and travel in her spare time.

Why choose Dr Gilliland as your hand and wrist surgeon

Choosing Dr. Gilliland ensures you are in the care of a highly accomplished, UK-trained surgeon who brings a wealth of specialized expertise to hand and wrist care. With a Master’s degree in Orthopaedic Surgery and Fellowship status with the Royal College of Surgeons, she combines advanced technical proficiency with a dedicated subspecialist focus on upper limb and pediatric pathology. Beyond her surgical precision and award-winning academic contributions, Dr. Gilliland is widely recognized for her leadership in medical education and her commitment to mentoring the next generation of surgeons. This unique blend of high-level clinical training, international fellowship experience, and a compassionate, person-centered approach ensures that every patient receives world-class, specialized treatment tailored to their specific needs.

Associations

  • Queen’s University Belfast
  • University of Edinburgh
  • General Medical Council UK
  • Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Dr Rachel Farrelly

About Dr Farrelly

Bio coming soon

Why choose Dr Farrelly as your hand and wrist surgeon

Bio coming soon

Associations

  • coming soon

Dr Nastaran Sargazi

About Dr Sargazi

Dr. Nastaran Sargazi is a UK-trained Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon with a subspecialist interest in hand and wrist surgery, as well as in general orthopaedic trauma. She obtained her primary medical degree (MBChB) from the University of Liverpool, followed by completion of higher specialist training in Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery in 2024. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS Tr&Orth) and a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

Dr. Sargazi has pursued advanced fellowship training at Wrightington Hospital and, most recently, undertook a fellowship in hand and wrist arthroplasty and general trauma at the Liverpool Hand Unit.

She maintains a strong commitment to medical education and surgical training. She is an Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Instructor with the Royal College of Surgeons of England and has previously held clinical tutor appointments at the University of Manchester and the University of Buckinghamshire.

Her academic portfolio is substantial and includes authorship of a book chapter, ten peer-reviewed publications, two e-learning modules, and more than forty oral and poster presentations delivered at national and international conferences. In addition, she contributes actively to the academic community as a reviewer for the Bone and Joint Journal (BJJ) Open and the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports, and she serves on the editorial board of the AS Orthopaedics Journal.

Beyond her professional commitments, Dr. Sargazi engages in a range of outdoor pursuits, including cycling and running, and enjoys travel as well as spending time with family and friends.

Dr Humza Khan

About Dr Khan

Dr Humza Khan’s background is shaped by his family’s migration from South Africa to Australia in search of better opportunities. Having attended public school, he worked hard to pursue medicine, drawn to the mechanics and science of restoring wrist and hand function.

After completing orthopaedic specialist training, he undertook multiple subspecialty fellowships, including a dedicated fellowship with Mr Jeff Ecker where he participated in more than 700 wrist arthroscopic procedures. He has also completed further training in trauma, elective wrist and hand surgery, and shoulder and elbow surgery.

Dr Khan has published research, presented internationally, and developed expertise in complex distal radius fractures and advanced wrist arthroscopy.

Why choose Dr Khan as your hand and wrist surgeon

Dr Khan takes time to explain conditions clearly, often using diagrams or referring patients to trusted resources. He works closely with hand therapists and frequently reviews progress during therapy sessions. With extensive fellowship training and international experience, he is recognised for his expertise in wrist arthroscopy, complex fractures, and functional recovery, all delivered with a strong patient-centred approach.

Associations

  • Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
  • Australian Orthopaedic Association
  • Australian Hand Surgery Society
  • University of Western Australia Graduate

Dr Jeff Ecker

About Dr Ecker

Dr Jeff Ecker first considered a career in neurology and neurosurgery, but was drawn to orthopaedics for the potential to

  • directly visualise anatomical problems
  • deliver solutions that tangibly improve patients’ everyday lives.

Wrist and hand surgery fascinated him because it combines elements of plastics, orthopaedics, microsurgery, arthroscopy, endoscopy and vascular surgery. With more than 35 years of experience, he is recognised internationally for pioneering techniques, including the world’s first supraretinacular endoscopic carpal tunnel release.

He has trained at leading institutions such as Oxford, Duke University and the University of Southern California, and continues to publish and present internationally. His special interests include complex wrist problems such as scaphoid fractures, fracture non-unions, and wrist arthroscopy.

Why choose Dr Ecker as your hand and wrist surgeon

Dr Ecker takes time to listen carefully and explain treatment options in a clear, straightforward way. He uses technology such as in-room ultrasound and digital images to help patients understand their condition, and collaborates with experienced therapists to provide tailored rehabilitation. With decades of experience in some of the most complex and challenging cases worldwide, he combines technical excellence with a strong focus on patient education and outcomes.

Associations

  • Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
  • Australian Orthopaedic Association
  • Australian Hand Surgery Society
  • Asia Pacific Wrist Association
  • Hand and Upper Limb Centre
  • Curtin University School of Medicine
  • University of Western Australia
  • Raise Your Hands

Dr David Dyer

About Dr Dyer

Dr David Dyer grew up creating on his father’s workbench, with an early interest in carpentry and woodwork. This practical background, combined with a passion for science and medicine, led him into orthopaedic surgery, where precision and hand-eye coordination are essential.

He chose to specialise in wrist and hand surgery because it is technically detailed, rewarding, and offers operations that significantly improve patients’ lives.

He has trained in Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, learning from leading Australian and international surgeons. David is an orthopaedic surgeon who has completed sub-specialist Post Fellowship Education and Training (PFET) in Hand Surgery with the Australian Hand Surgery Society (AHSS). His special interests include microsurgery, arthroscopic surgery, complex hand and wrist procedures including trauma (including wrist and finger fractures, soft tissue injuries, nerve and vascular injuries).

Why choose Dr Dyer as your hand and wrist surgeon

Dr Dyer creates a professional yet approachable environment where patients feel supported. He takes time to explain conditions clearly, often using diagrams or imaging, and works closely with hand therapists to help with recovery. Known for being respectful, compassionate and meticulous, he combines advanced surgical training with a focus on patient-centred care.

Associations

  • Australian Hand Surgery Society
  • Asia Pacific Wrist Association
  • Australian Orthopaedic Association
  • Royal Australasian College of Surgeons