Foot and ankle arthritis
Adult

Orthopaedics

Useful Management Information

  • National definitions for elective surgery
  • Obesity is associated with an increase in complications associated with surgery – consider dietitian & weight reduction monitoring if BMI is a concern
  • Chronic disease requires to be optimised prior to referral or the patients may not proceed to surgery

Minimum Referral Criteria

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?
Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days)
  • Skin ulceration secondary to deformity or pressure
Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days)
  • Presence of avascular necrosis
  • Associated with diabetic peripheral neuropath
Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days)
  • Functional impairment and/or pain persists despite maximal management, such as physiotherapy or managed weight loss
  • If the patient does not meet the criteria for referral but the referring practitioner believes the patient requires specialist review, a clinical override may be requested:
    • 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.

Essential Referral Information

  • History of - symptoms, rate of deterioration of the condition
  • Pain assessment –waking up at night, analgesic consumption, aggravating and relieving factors
  • Interference with activities of daily living and working ability
  • Nerve irritation signs (Tinels foot sign or hyperaesthesia)
  • Neurological deficit
  • X-ray results - AP and lateral ankle/foot including weight bearing/standing views

If a specific test result cannot be obtained due to access, financial, religious, cultural or consent reasons a clinical override may be requested. This reason must be clearly articulated in the body of the referral.

Additional Referral Information

  • Management to date (including insoles and physiotherapy)
  • High risk foot clinic or podiatrist reports
Last updated 12 January 2023

Send Referrals To

Smart Referrals

Preferred Method
About Smart Referrals

Secure Web Transfer

Send to: Gold Coast Health Service District

Internal Referrals

Orthopaedics (E-Blueslips)
Orthopaedic Fracture - GCUH
Orthopaedic Fracture - Robina

Fax

(07) 5687 4497

Post

Booking and Referral Centre
Gold Coast University Hospital
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport QLD 4215

Enquiries

1300 559 083

Related HealthPathways

No directly related pathways found

Service Availability

Dr Will Talbot

Facilities

Gold Coast University Hospital
Robina Hospital

If you would like to send a named referral, please address it to the specialist listed above, who will allocate a suitably qualified specialist to see the patient. Alternatively, you can view a full list of our specialists.

Gold Coast Health - For Clinicians
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