Reconstructive Hand Surgery
Emergency department referrals
All urgent cases must be discussed with the on call Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Registrar. Contact through Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (07) 3646 8111 to obtain appropriate prioritisation and treatment.
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.
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
- Severe/disabling symptoms of nerve compression and/or muscle weakness or wasting and NCS confirmation of diagnosis
- Soft tissue tumour of the hand with suspicion of malignancy
Category 2
Appointment within 90 days is desirable
- Frequent symptoms of nerve compression and any of the following:
- rapid progression
- recurrence after surgical decompression
- failed maximal medical management (refer to Healthpathways)
- Major impacts on ADLs and/or employment
Category 3
Appointment within 365 days is desirable
- Secondary hand surgery after injury
- Stenosing tenosynovitis and failed medical management
- Rheumatoid hand deformity with impaired function or pain and failed maximal medical management
- Symptomatic or enlarging ganglion of the hand
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 for assessment and management information if available
- Splint and activity modification
- Consider steroid injections as appropriate
- Joint ROM exercises
- Occupational therapy/physiotherapy to maintain mobility/ prevent stiffness and contracture/maintain extension/prevent/control pain/strengthening
Referral requirements
A referral may be rejected without the following information.
- History of handedness, occupation, significant hobbies and anticoagulant therapy
- Smoking status
- Medical management to date (include Allied health input and steroid injections)
- Detailed clinical examination with sensory mapping and functional assessment (include impacts on ADL and employment)
- Comprehensive neurovascular assessment
- Details of functional impairment
- XR for confirmed or suspected fracture or rheumatoid hand deformity
- NCS required for Category 1 cases only
- Hand USS for stenosising tenosynovitis and soft tissue tumours of the hand
Additional referral information (useful for processing the referral)
- Occupational therapy/physiotherapy report
- Nerve conduction studies if referred for nerve compression syndromes or nerve palsies
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.)
Send referral
Hotline: 1300 364 938
Medical Objects ID: MQ40290004P
HealthLink EDI: qldmnhhs
Mail:
Metro North Central Patient Intake
Aspley Community Centre
776 Zillmere Road
ASPLEY QLD 4034
Health pathways
Access to Health Pathways is free for clinicians in Metro North Brisbane.
For login details email:
healthpathways@brisbanenorthphn.org.au
Login to Brisbane North Health Pathways:
brisbanenorth.healthpathwayscommunity.org