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The Orthopaedic Clinic

Private Service, Orthopaedics

Today

8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Description

The Orthopaedic Clinic was established in 1987 to integrate private orthopaedic practice with teaching and research.  The initial concept of a primary academic focus of care has been maintained and all our surgeons work in both public and private practice expanding this academically focused orthopaedic care across all of the community.  The focus on optimum orthopaedic healthcare extends to research, teaching, continuing education and advocacy for our patients and our profession.  All of our partners are extensively involved in these aspects of care within the orthopaedic sector of healthcare delivery. 
 
Our services include:
 
What is Orthopaedics?
This is an area that deals with conditions of the musculoskeletal system (disorders of bones and joints of the limbs and spine). The specialty covers a range of different types of conditions starting with congenital (conditions which children are born with) through to degenerative (conditions relating to the wearing out of joints). The field of orthopaedics covers trauma where bones are broken or injuries are sustained to limbs.
Other conditions that sit under the spectrum of orthopaedics are metabolic conditions, neurological and inflammatory conditions.

Consultants

Referral Expectations

You need to bring with you:

1.       A letter of referral from your doctor, reports from hospital or any other relevant documents.
2.       Any X-Rays, CT or MRI films and reports.
3.       A list of medicines you are currently taking.
4.       Your ACC number and date of injury, if relevant.
 
Once you know you are going to have an operation there are a number of things you can do to help ensure your surgery is successful. Click here to learn more.

Fees and Charges Description

For non ACC visits

Initial consultation: $350 - $450

Follow up consultation: $160.00 - $250

 

All our surgeons are Southern Cross and NIB Affiliated for consultations.

 

The following payment options are accepted:

Cash,  Eftpos, Visa & Mastercard

 

Please note: There is a $500.00 transaction limit if paying by credit card.  Anything over this amount will incur a 2% administration fee.

Hours

8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Mon – Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Procedures / Treatments

Joint Replacement

For elderly patients joint replacement surgery is commonly required to treat damaged joints from wearing out, arthritis or other forms of joint disease including rheumatoid arthritis. In these procedures the damaged joint surface is removed and replaced with artificial surfaces normally made from metal (chromium cobalt alloy, titanium), plastic (high density polyethelene) or ceramic which act as alternate bearing surfaces for the damaged joint. These operations are major procedures which require the patient to be in hospital for several days and followed by a significant period of rehabilitation. The hospital has several ways of approaching the procedure for replacement and the specifics for the procedure will be covered at the time of assessment and booking of surgery. Occasionally blood transfusions are required; if you have some concerns raise this with your surgeon during consultation. Click here to learn more about joint replacement surgery.

For elderly patients joint replacement surgery is commonly required to treat damaged joints from wearing out, arthritis or other forms of joint disease including rheumatoid arthritis. In these procedures the damaged joint surface is removed and replaced with artificial surfaces normally made from metal (chromium cobalt alloy, titanium), plastic (high density polyethelene) or ceramic which act as alternate bearing surfaces for the damaged joint.
These operations are major procedures which require the patient to be in hospital for several days and followed by a significant period of rehabilitation. The hospital has several ways of approaching the procedure for replacement and the specifics for the procedure will be covered at the time of assessment and booking of surgery.
 
Occasionally blood transfusions are required; if you have some concerns raise this with your surgeon during consultation.
 
Click here to learn more about joint replacement surgery.
Osteotomy

The division of a crooked or bent bone to improve alignment of the limb. These procedures normally involve some form of internal fixation, such as rods or plates, or external fixation which involves external wires and pins to hold the bone. The type of procedure for fixation will be explained when the surgery is planned.

The division of a crooked or bent bone to improve alignment of the limb.
 
These procedures normally involve some form of internal fixation, such as rods or plates, or external fixation which involves external wires and pins to hold the bone. The type of procedure for fixation will be explained when the surgery is planned.
Arthroscopy (keyhole surgery)

Over the last 30 years a large number of orthopaedic procedures on joints have been performed using an arthroscope, where a fiber optic telescope is used to look inside the joint. Through this type of keyhole surgery, fine instruments can be introduced through small incisions (portals) to allow surgery to be performed without the need for large cuts. This allows many procedures to be performed as a day stay and allows quicker return to normal function of the joint. Arthroscopic surgery is less painful than open surgery and decreases the risk of healing problems. Arthroscopy allows access to parts of the joints which can not be accessed by other types of surgery. Click here to learn more about arthroscopic surgery.

Over the last 30 years a large number of orthopaedic procedures on joints have been performed using an arthroscope, where a fiber optic telescope is used to look inside the joint. Through this type of keyhole surgery, fine instruments can be introduced through small incisions (portals) to allow surgery to be performed without the need for large cuts. This allows many procedures to be performed as a day stay and allows quicker return to normal function of the joint.
Arthroscopic surgery is less painful than open surgery and decreases the risk of healing problems.  Arthroscopy  allows access to parts of the joints which can not be accessed by other types of surgery.
 
Click here to learn more about arthroscopic surgery.
Soft Tissue (muscles, tendons and ligaments)

In many cases tendons will be lengthened to improve the muscle balance around a joint or tendons will be transferred to give overall better joint function. This occurs in children with neuromuscular conditions but also applies to a number of other conditions. Most of these procedures involve some sort of splintage after the surgery followed by a period of rehabilitation, normally supervised by a physiotherapist.

In many cases tendons will be lengthened to improve the muscle balance around a joint or tendons will be transferred to give overall better joint function.
This occurs in children with neuromuscular conditions but also applies to a number of other conditions.
Most of these procedures involve some sort of splintage after the surgery followed by a period of rehabilitation, normally supervised by a physiotherapist.
Spine Surgery

Herniated Discs Between the vertebrae in your spine are flat, round discs that act as shock absorbers for the spinal bones. Sometimes some of the gel-like substance in the center of the disc (nucleus) bulges out through the tough outer ring (annulus) and into the spinal canal. This is known as a herniated or ruptured disc and the pressure it puts on the spinal nerves often causes symptoms such as pain, numbness and tingling. Initial treatment for a herniated disc may involve low level activity, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication and physiotherapy. If these approaches fail to reduce or remove the pain, surgical treatment may be considered. Discectomy This surgery is performed to remove part or all of a herniated intervertebral disc. Open discectomy – involves making an incision (cut) over the vertebra and stripping back the muscles to expose the herniated disc. The entire disc, or parts of it are removed, thus relieving pressure on the spinal nerves. Microdiscectomy – this is a ‘minimally invasive’ surgical technique, meaning it requires smaller incisions and no muscle stripping is required. Tiny, specialised instruments are used to remove the disc or disc fragments. Laminectomy or Laminotomy These procedures involve making an incision down the centre of the back and removing some or all of the bony arch (lamina) of a vertebra. In a laminectomy, all or most of the lamina is surgically removed while a laminotomy involves partial removal of the lamina. By making more room in the spinal canal, these procedures reduce pressure on the spinal nerves. They also give the surgeon better access to the disc and other parts of the spine if further procedures e.g. discectomy, spinal fusion, are required. Spinal Fusion In this procedure, individual vertebrae are fused together so that no movement can occur between the vertebrae and hence pain is reduced. Spinal fusion may be required for disc herniation in the cervical region of the spine as well as for some cases of vertebral fracture and to prevent pain-inducing movements. Spinal Tumours Tumours may be found within the spinal cord itself, between the spinal cord and its tough outer covering, the dura, or outside the dura. They may be primary (they arise in the in the spine or nearby tissue) or metastatic (they have originated in another part of the body and traveled to the spine, usually via the bloodstream). Spinal tumours may be treated by any combination of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Surgery may be performed to take a small sample of tissue to examine under the microscope (biopsy) or to remove the tumour. Typically, the patient will be lying face downwards and a procedure known as a laminectomy is performed (the bone overlying the spinal cord is removed). This gives the surgeon access to the spinal cord and allows removal of the tumour.

Herniated Discs
Between the vertebrae in your spine are flat, round discs that act as shock absorbers for the spinal bones. Sometimes some of the gel-like substance in the center of the disc (nucleus) bulges out through the tough outer ring (annulus) and into the spinal canal. This is known as a herniated or ruptured disc and the pressure it puts on the spinal nerves often causes symptoms such as pain, numbness and tingling.

Initial treatment for a herniated disc may involve low level activity, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication and physiotherapy. If these approaches fail to reduce or remove the pain, surgical treatment may be considered.


Discectomy
This surgery is performed to remove part or all of a herniated intervertebral disc.

Open discectomy – involves making an incision (cut) over the vertebra and stripping back the muscles to expose the herniated disc. The entire disc, or parts of it are removed, thus relieving pressure on the spinal nerves.

Microdiscectomy – this is a ‘minimally invasive’ surgical technique, meaning it requires smaller incisions and no muscle stripping is required. Tiny, specialised instruments are used to remove the disc or disc fragments.


Laminectomy or Laminotomy
These procedures involve making an incision down the centre of the back and removing some or all of the bony arch (lamina) of a vertebra.

In a laminectomy, all or most of the lamina is surgically removed while a laminotomy involves partial removal of the lamina.

By making more room in the spinal canal, these procedures reduce pressure on the spinal nerves. They also give the surgeon better access to the disc and other parts of the spine if further procedures e.g. discectomy, spinal fusion, are required.


Spinal Fusion
In this procedure, individual vertebrae are fused together so that no movement can occur between the vertebrae and hence pain is reduced. Spinal fusion may be required for disc herniation in the cervical region of the spine as well as for some cases of vertebral fracture and to prevent pain-inducing movements.

 

Spinal Tumours
Tumours may be found within the spinal cord itself, between the spinal cord and its tough outer covering, the dura, or outside the dura. They may be primary (they arise in the in the spine or nearby tissue) or metastatic (they have originated in another part of the body and traveled to the spine, usually via the bloodstream).

Spinal tumours may be treated by any combination of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Surgery may be performed to take a small sample of tissue to examine under the microscope (biopsy) or to remove the tumour. Typically, the patient will be lying face downwards and a procedure known as a laminectomy is performed (the bone overlying the spinal cord is removed). This gives the surgeon access to the spinal cord and allows removal of the tumour.

Travel Directions

Drive in the main entrance of Mercy Hospital. Veer off to the left following the signs to Mercy Specialist Centre.  You will find us on the ground floor in Entrance D.  Please remember to pay for parking.

Public Transport

The Auckland Transport website is a good resource to plan your public transport options.

Parking

Parking is provided outside our building or around the corner in the double storey carpark building.

 

Please note there is a charge for parking on site.

Contact Details

8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Click here to request an appointment online

Website: www.orthoclinic.co.nz

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100 Mountain Road
Epsom
Auckland 1023

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Street Address

100 Mountain Road
Epsom
Auckland 1023

This page was last updated at 10:36AM on August 12, 2024. This information is reviewed and edited by The Orthopaedic Clinic.