Dr. Francis Wong Keng Lin

Dr Francis Wong is one of the few orthopaedic surgeon-scientists in Asia with a PhD in cartilage regeneration, and is considered by many as a “true cartilage surgeon-scientist”. He trained at the National University of Singapore (NUS) where he completed his MBBS, Master of Medicine in Orthopaedic Surgery, and later a Master of Clinical Investigation and finally his PhD. He was the first orthopaedic surgeon in Singapore to earn a PhD in cartilage regeneration, and is globally known for bridging surgical care with cutting-edge research in biologics and regenerative therapies. He was also the first South-east Asian to be awarded the Vericel-ICRS (International Cartilage Regeneration and Joint Preservation Society) Clinical Travelling Fellowship. Dr Wong learnt the best cartilage restoration and regeneration techniques from world renowned centres from North America and Europe, and have since applied them in Singapore.

As a former Research Director at Sengkang General Hospital and Campus Service Chief for the SingHealth Duke-NUS Cell Therapy Centre, Dr Wong led several nationally funded projects in biologic cartilage repair, bone marrow-derived therapies, and exosome research, all while performing complex knee surgeries and teaching the next generation of surgeons. His passion lies in preserving native joint function and avoiding early joint replacement. He does this through advanced arthroscopic techniques, scaffold-based cartilage repair, and biologic augmentation.

His journey as a surgeon-scientist is grounded in two principles: “Always preserve what nature gave, and let science guide what’s next.” Concerned by how often patients are told “you just need a joint replacement,” he has spent over a decade developing techniques that aim to repair and regenerate rather than replace. He has taught these principles globally and continues to serve as faculty in international cartilage restoration masterclasses, training surgeons from around the world.

Dr Wong works closely with a network of radiologists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, and cartilage-trained rehab specialists to deliver end-to-end care from imaging to recovery.

Cartilage Repair and Restoration surgeries

Joint Preservation Surgery

Sports Injuries

Knee Ligament Injuries (ACL, PCL, Multi-ligament)

Orthobiologics and Cell Therapy

Complex Orthopaedic Surgery

Certified Autologous Matrix Induced Chondrogeneis (AMIC®) Specialist for Joint Cartilage Repair

Arthroscopic cartilage regeneration with stem cell augmentation and Sports surgery

Arthroscopic knee ligament reconstruction and meniscus repair surgery

Keyhole ankle ligament reconstruction surgery (Lasso technique)

Certified in ROSA Robot-assisted Knee replacement

As of January 2026:

Citations: 2593
h-index: 27
i10-index: 53
Peer-reviewed Publications: 87

Top 10 publications:
1. Wong KL, Zhang S, Wang M, Ren X, Afizah H, Lai RC, Lim SK, Lee EH, Hoi
PHJ, Toh WS. Intra-Articular Injections of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Exosomes and
Hyaluronic Acid Improve Structural and Mechanical Properties of Repaired
Cartilage in a Rabbit Model. Arthroscopy. 2020 Aug;36(8):2215-2228.e2. doi:
10.1016/j.arthro.2020.03.031. Epub 2020 Apr 14. PubMed PMID: 32302651. JIF:
5.973

2. Wong KL, Zhang S, Heng Tan SS, Cheow YA, Lai RC, Lim SK, Po Hui JH, Toh
WS. Mesenchymal Stem Cell Exosomes Promote Growth Plate Repair and Reduce
Limb-Length Discrepancy in Young Rats. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2022 Jun
15;104(12):1098-1106. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.21.00789. Epub 2022 Feb 17. PubMed
PMID: 35175995. JIF: 6.558

3. Wong KL, Lee BL, Tai BC, Law P, Lee EH, Hui HPInjectable Cultured Bone
Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Varus Knees With Cartilage Defects
Undergoing High Tibial Osteotomy: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Clinical
Trial With 2 Years Follow Up. Arthroscopy. 2013 Dec;29(12):2020-8. doi:
10.1016/j.arthro.2013.09.074. JIF: 5.973

4. Ow ZGW, Cheang HLX, Koh JH, Koh JZE, Lim KK, Wang D, Minas T, Carey JL,
Lin HA, Wong KL. Does the Choice of Acellular Scaffold and Augmentation With
Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Affect Short-term Outcomes in Cartilage
Repair? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Am J Sports Med. 2022 Feb
28:3635465211069565. Doi: 10.1177/03635465211069565. Epub ahead of print.
PMID: 35225004. JIF: 7.010

5. Zhang S, Wong KL, Ren X, Teo KYW, Afizah H, Choo ABH, Lai RC, Lim SK, Hui
JHP, Toh WS. Mesenchymal Stem Cell Exosomes Promote Functional
Osteochondral Repair in a Clinically Relevant Porcine Model. Am J Sports Med.
2022 Mar;50(3):788-800. doi: 10.1177/03635465211068129. Epub 2022 Jan 31.
PMID: 35099327. JIF: 7.010

6. Ow ZGW, Cheong CK, Hai HH, Ng CH, Wang D, Krych AJ, Saris DBF, Wong KL,
LinHA. Securing Transplanted Meniscal Allografts Using Bone Plugs Results in
Lower Risks of Graft Failure and Reoperations: A Meta-analysis. Am J Sports Med.
2022 Dec;50(14):4008-4018. doi: 10.1177/03635465211042014. Epub 2021 Oct
11. PubMed PMID: 34633225. JIF: 7.010

7. ZGW Ow, MSN Law, CH Ng, AJ Krych, DBF Saris, P Debieux, KL Wong, Lin
HA. All-Cause Failure Rates Increase with Time Following Meniscal Repair Despite
Favorable Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Arthroscopy. 2021
Dec;37(12):3518-3528. doi: 10.1016/j.arthro.2021.05.033. Epub 2021 May 29.
PubMed PMID: 34058318. PMID: 34058318. JIF: 5.973

8. Tan SSH, Tjio CKE, Wong JRY, Wong KL, Chew JRJ, Hui JHP, Toh WS.
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Exosomes for Cartilage Regeneration: A Systematic
Review of Preclinical In Vivo Studies. Tissue Eng Part B Rev. 2021 Feb;27(1):1-13.
doi: 10.1089/ten.TEB.2019.0326. Epub 2020 Apr 15. PubMed PMID:
32159464. JIF: 7.376

9. Teo AQA, Wong KL, Shen L, Lim JY, Toh WS, Lee EH, Hui JHP. Equivalent
10-Year Outcomes After Implantation of Autologous Bone Marrow-Derived
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Versus Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation for
Chondral Defects of the Knee. Am J Sports Med. 2019 Oct;47(12):2881-2887. doi:
10.1177/0363546519867933. Epub 2019 Aug 21. PubMed PMID: 31433674. JIF:
7.010

10. Tan SHS, Wong JRY, Sim SJY, Tjio CKE, Wong KL, Chew JRJ, Hui JHP, Toh
WS. Mesenchymal stem cell exosomes in bone regenerative strategies-a
systematic review of preclinical studies. Mater Today Bio.2020 Jun;7:100067. doi:
10.1016/j.mtbio.2020.100067. eCollection 2020 Jun. Review. PubMed PMID:
32695985; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7364174. JIF: 10.761

Singapore Health Quality Service Awards (SHQSA) – STAR (2022)

National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Transition Award (2022)

Special Recognition Award NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (2020, 2021,2023)

SingHealth Outstanding Faculty Award: PGY 1 programme (2020)

Singapore Health Quality Service Awards (SHQSA) – Silver (2020)

International Cartilage Research Society (ICRS): 14th World Congress 9th –12th

April 2018: Certificate of Achievement: Merit Award

National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Research Training Fellowship Award (2017)

Best Senior Resident Award, NUHS Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Programme (2014 – 2016)

Singapore Orthopaedic Association: Young Orthopaedic Investigator’s Award (2013)

Deputy Chair, NextGen Committee, International Cartilage Regeneration & Joint Preservation Society (ICRS) (Current)

Executive Committee, Stem Cell Society Singapore (2021-2023)

Fellow, Academy of Medicine, Singapore (Orthopaedic Surgery)

Executive Committee Member, Singapore Orthopaedic Association (2019 – 2023)

Member, AO Trauma Foundation

Member, Asia-Pacific Knee, Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine Society (APKASS)