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Orthopaedic Services | Te Tai Tokerau (Northland)

Public Service, Orthopaedics

Description

What is Orthopaedics?
Orthopaedics is a specialty that deals with conditions of the musculo-skeletal system (disorders of bones and joints of the limbs and spine). The specialty covers a range of conditions including 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.
 

Referral Expectations

Your GP will send us a letter explaining your condition. If you meet the criteria to be seen, we will make an appointment time and send it directly to you. You will be seen in the outpatient clinic by specialist doctors who will discuss treatment options and recommendations with you.
You need to bring with you:

  • Any letters or reports from your doctor or other hospitals.
  • All medicines you are taking including herbal and natural remedies.
  • Your ACC number, if you have one.

Procedures / Treatments

Fracture Clinics

These clinics are run by most orthopaedic departments for patients that have sustained an injury that has already been treated and further follow-up of that injury is required, to monitor progress of a healing bone, check the position of the bone in a cast and to decide when other steps in management such as re-manipulation of fracture, removal of a cast or change of the management plan is required. Often at these fracture clinics x-rays are taken on arrival. Although an appointment time is given, the time to have x-rays, casts removed, other treatments instigated may take several hours. Other appointments will be quick and efficient if these other procedures are not needed.

These clinics are run by most orthopaedic departments for patients that have sustained an injury that has already been treated and further follow-up of that injury is required, to monitor progress of a healing bone, check the position of the bone in a cast and to decide when other steps in management such as re-manipulation of fracture, removal of a cast or change of the management plan is required. Often at these fracture clinics x-rays are taken on arrival.
Although an appointment time is given, the time to have x-rays, casts removed, other treatments instigated may take several hours. Other appointments will be quick and efficient if these other procedures are not needed.
General Outpatient Clinics

These are clinics for patients that have been referred by their doctor for an orthopaedic opinion on a specific concern. These clinics are usually attended by a specialist orthopaedic surgeon who will be available to advise on diagnosis and management. Often at the clinics, x-rays will be taken, if not already taken.

These are clinics for patients that have been referred by their doctor for an orthopaedic opinion on a specific concern. These clinics are usually attended by a specialist orthopaedic surgeon who will be available to advise on diagnosis and management. Often at the clinics, x-rays will be taken, if not already taken.
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.

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.

Contact Details

Whangarei Hospital
2 Hospital Road
Whangarei

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Street Address

Whangārei Hospital
2 Hospital Road
Whangārei

Postal Address

Whangārei Hospital
Private Bag 9742
Whangārei 0148

This page was last updated at 2:19PM on June 21, 2023. This information is reviewed and edited by Orthopaedic Services | Te Tai Tokerau (Northland).