Our Acute Injury and Joint Care Pathways provide streamlined access to specialist assessment and management for lower-limb injuries and hip and knee conditions.
Patients are initially assessed by our experienced Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Liaison, who works closely with Dr Richard Hanly. A thorough clinical assessment is undertaken, including review of symptoms, functional limitations and relevant imaging, with the findings and proposed management plan reviewed by Dr Hanly.
Dr Hanly oversees all patients assessed through these pathways and remains actively involved in their care. He reviews the clinical assessment and management plan and, where appropriate, will see the patient during their appointment to discuss the findings and proposed treatment pathway.
The pathways allow us to commence assessment sooner, arrange further imaging or investigations where required, and determine whether conservative, non-operative or surgical management is most appropriate.
Joint Care Pathway
The Joint Care Pathway is held at our Bowen Hills rooms on Wednesday mornings and is primarily designed for patients with hip and knee conditions, including degenerative and persistent joint-related problems. This pathway provides an efficient alternative to waiting for a standard 30-minute surgical consultation when an initial clinical assessment and further investigation may be required. Patients can commence their assessment promptly, while remaining within a specialist-led orthopaedic framework.
Acute Injury Pathway
The Acute Injury Pathway is designed for patients presenting with recent lower-limb trauma, sporting injuries or other acute orthopaedic presentations. Early assessment allows appropriate imaging, injury management and rehabilitation to be commenced promptly, while identifying patients who may require specialist surgical intervention.
A Collaborative Approach to Patient Care
These pathways are designed to support appropriate clinical triage, early intervention and continuity of care, while maintaining close collaboration between the referring practitioner, Physiotherapy Liaison and orthopaedic surgeon.
Referring practitioners can be confident that their patients are being assessed within a surgeon-led clinical framework, with management recommendations based on the individual patient's presentation and ongoing orthopaedic oversight from Dr Hanly.
Where surgery is indicated, the patient can then progress through the appropriate surgical pathway, with relevant clinical requirements and waiting periods discussed as part of their ongoing care.