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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome/Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Emergency department referrals

All urgent cases must be discussed with the on call Registrar to obtain appropriate prioritisation and treatment. Contact through:

  • Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (07) 3646 8111
  • The Prince Charles Hospital (07) 3139 4000
  • Redcliffe Hospital (07) 3883 7777
  • Caboolture Hospital (07) 5433 8888

Urgent cases accepted via phone must be accompanied with a written referral and a copy faxed immediately to the Central Patient Intake Unit: 1300 364 952.

If any of the following are present or suspected, refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.

  • Acute development of peripheral nerve compression symptoms following trauma or acute event

Does your patient wish to be referred?

Minimum referral criteria

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?

Category 1

Appointment within 30 days is desirable

  • History of trauma associated with neurological deficit
  • Space occupying lesion associated with neurological deficit

Category 2

Appointment within 90 days is desirable

  • Signs and symptoms consistent with carpal/cubital tunnel syndrome with continuous sensory deficit or weakness/wasting of innervated muscles
  • Pregnant patients

Category 3

Appointment within 365 days is desirable

  • Signs and symptoms consistent with carpal/cubital tunnel with intermittent symptoms and no weakness /wasting not responsive to non-operative measures for greater than 3 months

If your patient does not meet the minimum referral criteria

Consider other treatment pathways or an alternative diagnosis.

If you still need to refer your patient:

  • Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.)
  • Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service

Other important information for referring practitioners

Not an exhaustive list

  • Refer to HealthPathways or local guidelines
  • CTS can be referred to the following specialities but will be triaged in a unified manner by all specialities concerned:
    • Orthopaedics
    • Plastic and Reconstructive surgery
    • Neurosurgery
    • General Surgery
  • Adequate chronic disease management preferable (e.g. diabetes)
  • Active smokers may not be considered suitable for surgical management

Referral requirements

A referral may be rejected without the following information.

Essential referral information

  • History of presenting complaint
  • Functional impact including on employment if applicable
  • Examination findings including sensory mapping, signs of weakness or wasting (e.g. thenar eminence)

Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral)

  • Management to date (include splinting and steroid injections if applicable)
  • Previous surgery
  • Electrodiagnostic studies are preferable and assist with diagnosis and triage but are not essential due to regional difficulties accessing this investigation

Out of catchment

Metro North Health is responsible for providing public health services to the people who reside within its boundaries. Special consideration is made for patients requiring tertiary care or services that are not provided by their local Hospital and Health Service. If your patient lives outside the Metro North Health area and you wish to refer them to one of our services, inclusion of information regarding their particular medical and social factors will assist with the triaging of your referral.

  • Impact on employment
  • Impact on education
  • Impact on home
  • Impact on activities of daily living
  • Impact on ability to care for others
  • Impact on personal frailty or safety
  • Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

  • To establish a diagnosis
  • For treatment or intervention
  • For advice and management
  • For specialist to take over management
  • Reassurance for GP/second opinion
  • For a specified test/investigation the GP can’t order, or the patient can’t afford or access
  • Reassurance for the patient/family
  • For other reason (e.g. rapidly accelerating disease progression)
  • Clinical judgement indicates a referral for specialist review is necessary

  • Presenting symptoms (evolution and duration)
  • Physical findings
  • Details of previous treatment (including systemic and topical medications prescribed) including the course and outcome of the treatment
  • Body mass index (BMI)
  • Details of any associated medical conditions which may affect the condition or its treatment (e.g. diabetes), noting these must be stable and controlled prior to referral
  • Current medications and dosages
  • Drug allergies
  • Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs use

  • Full name (including aliases)
  • Date of birth
  • Residential and postal address
  • Telephone contact number/s – home, mobile and alternative
  • Medicare number (where eligible)
  • Name of the parent or caregiver (if appropriate)
  • Preferred language and interpreter requirements
  • Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

  • Full name
  • Full address
  • Contact details – telephone, fax, email
  • Provider number
  • Date of referral
  • Signature

  • Willingness to have surgery (where surgery is a likely intervention)
  • Choice to be treated as a public or private patient
  • Compensable status (e.g. DVA, Work Cover, Motor Vehicle Insurance, etc.)
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