Laura E. Wong
( out of 490 reviews )

Laura E. Wong, MD, PhD

Languages spoken: English

Clinical Locations

Primary Location

University of Utah Hospital

Plastic Surgery, Area E
50 N Medical Dr
Salt Lake City , UT 84132
801-581-7719
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Farmington Health Center

165 N. University Ave.
Farmington , UT 84025
801-213-3200
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Sugar House Health Center

1280 E. Stringham Avenue
Salt Lake City , UT 84106
801-581-2000
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Laura Wong, MD, PhD, is a fellowship-trained, board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon specializing in all aspects of upper extremity reconstruction and microsurgery. Dr. Wong has a special interest in the treatment of complex nerve injuries of the upper and lower extremities, including brachial plexus injuries and viral-induced paralysis, with a goal of improving function through treatments such as nerve decompression, nerve and tendon transfers to restore function and free functional muscle transfer.

Dr. Wong’s Clinical Specialties Include:

  • Hand and wrist injuries including fractures
  • Ligamentous injuries
  • Tendon injuries
  • Nerve injuries
  • Vascular injuries
  • Management of traumatic amputations
  • Treatment of arthritis
  • Reconstruction following traumatic injuries
  • Reconstruction following tumor extirpation
  • Reconstruction using tissue transfer

Dr. Wong received her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine, where she also obtained a PhD in neuroscience studying axonal regeneration. Following medical school, Dr. Wong completed an Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency at University of California, San Francisco. At UCSF, she was recognized for excellence in medical student teaching on an institution-wide level through the Teaching Excellence Award for Cherished House Staff (TEACH). Dr. Wong completed the prestigious Orthopedic Hand and Microsurgery Fellowship at University of Washington where she gained additional expertise in the management of complex hand and upper extremity injuries.

Dr. Wong’s Research Interests Include:

  • Axonal regeneration

Outside of work, Dr. Wong enjoys spending time with her family. She enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and camping. She also enjoys her time at home as an avid gardener and home cook.

Comprehensive List of Conditions and Procedures

  • Amputation revision (upper and lower extremity)
  • Arthritis of the wrist, fingers and thumbs
  • Benign skin lesions of extremities
  • Bone nonunion repair
  • Bone reconstruction including vascularized bone transfer
  • Brachial plexus injury
  • Burns or burn scars of hand and extremities
  • Compression neuropathy (carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel, Guyon’s canal, radial tunnel, and pronator tunnel syndromes)
  • De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
  • Distal radius fractures
  • DRUJ arthritis
  • Exposed hardware of upper and lower extremities
  • Finger fractures
  • Free flap reconstruction of extremities
  • Free functional muscle transfer
  • Ganglion of wrist and hand
  • Hand and finger fractures
  • Hand infections
  • Hand trauma
  • Hand tumors/masses/ganglions
  • Limb salvage (upper and lower extremity)
  • Lipomas
  • Lower-extremity reconstruction (trauma/cancer)
  • Nail-bed injury or deformity (hand)
  • Nerve injury/reconstruction (upper and lower extremities)
  • Nerve transfers
  • Neuroma
  • Nonunion of hand and wrist bones
  • Peripheral nerve surgery
  • Raynaud’s phenomenon
  • Regenerative peripheral nerve interface (RPNI)
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Scaphoid non-union repair
  • Scar revision of hand
  • Skin cancer of extremities (including melanoma)
  • Spasticity conditions of upper and lower extremity (cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke, tetraplegia)
  • Syndactyly (fingers and toes)
  • Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR)
  • Tendon transfer/Injury
  • Tetraplegic hand surgery
  • TFCC tear
  • Thoracic outlet syndrome
  • Thumb arthritis
  • Trigger finger
  • Vascular injuries of the hand and fingers
  • Vascularized bone flap reconstruction
  • Wounds of extremities
  • Wrist arthroscopy
  • Wrist fractures and dislocations
  • Wrist pain

Specialties

Board Certification

American Board of Plastic Surgery

Patient Rating

Patients consistently describe Dr. Wong as highly skilled, professional, and compassionate. Reviewers report she listens carefully, takes time to explain diagnoses and treatment options in clear, understandable language, and makes them feel heard rather than rushed. Many note excellent surgical results and praise her clear communication, helpfulness with logistics (insurance, scheduling, interpretation), and caring bedside manner. Overall feedback emphasizes confidence in her clinical skill and genuine concern for patients' well‑being.

Generated via Patient Reviews

4.9 /5
( out of 490 reviews )

The patient rating score is an average of all responses on our patient experience survey. The rating averages scores for all questions about care from our providers. The scale on which responses are measured is 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

Laura Wong, MD, PhD, is a fellowship-trained, board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon specializing in all aspects of upper extremity reconstruction and microsurgery. Dr. Wong has a special interest in the treatment of complex nerve injuries of the upper and lower extremities, including brachial plexus injuries and viral-induced paralysis, with a goal of improving function through treatments such as nerve decompression, nerve and tendon transfers to restore function and free functional muscle transfer.

Dr. Wong’s Clinical Specialties Include:

  • Hand and wrist injuries including fractures
  • Ligamentous injuries
  • Tendon injuries
  • Nerve injuries
  • Vascular injuries
  • Management of traumatic amputations
  • Treatment of arthritis
  • Reconstruction following traumatic injuries
  • Reconstruction following tumor extirpation
  • Reconstruction using tissue transfer

Dr. Wong received her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine, where she also obtained a PhD in neuroscience studying axonal regeneration. Following medical school, Dr. Wong completed an Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency at University of California, San Francisco. At UCSF, she was recognized for excellence in medical student teaching on an institution-wide level through the Teaching Excellence Award for Cherished House Staff (TEACH). Dr. Wong completed the prestigious Orthopedic Hand and Microsurgery Fellowship at University of Washington where she gained additional expertise in the management of complex hand and upper extremity injuries.

Dr. Wong’s Research Interests Include:

  • Axonal regeneration

Outside of work, Dr. Wong enjoys spending time with her family. She enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and camping. She also enjoys her time at home as an avid gardener and home cook.

Comprehensive List of Conditions and Procedures

  • Amputation revision (upper and lower extremity)
  • Arthritis of the wrist, fingers and thumbs
  • Benign skin lesions of extremities
  • Bone nonunion repair
  • Bone reconstruction including vascularized bone transfer
  • Brachial plexus injury
  • Burns or burn scars of hand and extremities
  • Compression neuropathy (carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel, Guyon’s canal, radial tunnel, and pronator tunnel syndromes)
  • De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
  • Distal radius fractures
  • DRUJ arthritis
  • Exposed hardware of upper and lower extremities
  • Finger fractures
  • Free flap reconstruction of extremities
  • Free functional muscle transfer
  • Ganglion of wrist and hand
  • Hand and finger fractures
  • Hand infections
  • Hand trauma
  • Hand tumors/masses/ganglions
  • Limb salvage (upper and lower extremity)
  • Lipomas
  • Lower-extremity reconstruction (trauma/cancer)
  • Nail-bed injury or deformity (hand)
  • Nerve injury/reconstruction (upper and lower extremities)
  • Nerve transfers
  • Neuroma
  • Nonunion of hand and wrist bones
  • Peripheral nerve surgery
  • Raynaud’s phenomenon
  • Regenerative peripheral nerve interface (RPNI)
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Scaphoid non-union repair
  • Scar revision of hand
  • Skin cancer of extremities (including melanoma)
  • Spasticity conditions of upper and lower extremity (cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke, tetraplegia)
  • Syndactyly (fingers and toes)
  • Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR)
  • Tendon transfer/Injury
  • Tetraplegic hand surgery
  • TFCC tear
  • Thoracic outlet syndrome
  • Thumb arthritis
  • Trigger finger
  • Vascular injuries of the hand and fingers
  • Vascularized bone flap reconstruction
  • Wounds of extremities
  • Wrist arthroscopy
  • Wrist fractures and dislocations
  • Wrist pain

Board Certification and Academic Information

Academic Departments Surgery -Assistant Professor (Clinical)
Academic Divisions Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Board Certification
American Board of Plastic Surgery

Education history

Fellowship Orthopedic Hand Surgery - University of Washington School of Medicine Fellow
Residency Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine Resident
Professional Medical Neuroscience - Tufts University School of Medicine M.D., Ph.D.
Undergraduate Biology - University of Hawai'i at Mānoa B.S.

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Johnson CL, Schwartz H, Greenberg A, Hernandez S, Nnamani Silva ON, Wong LE, Martins DB, Broering JM, Kumar SB, Bongiovanni T, Wick EC, Roman SA (2021). Patient Perceptions on Barriers and Facilitators to Accessing Low-acuity Surgery During COVID-19 Pandemic. J Surg Res, 264, 30-36.
  2. Wong LE, Gibson ME, Arnold HM, Pepinsky B, Frank E (2015). Artemin promotes functional long-distance axonal regeneration to the brainstem after dorsal root crush. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 112(19), 6170-5.
  3. Sung C, Wong LE, Chang Sen LQ, Nguyen E, Lazaga N, Ganzer G, McNabb SL, Robinow S (2008). The unfulfilled/DHR51 gene of Drosophila melanogaster modulates wing expansion and fertility. Dev Dyn, 238(1), 171-82.

News & Podcasts

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Podcasts

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