Trauma & Fracture Care

All fracture and trauma referrals are reviewed within 24 hours. For acute injuries where clinically appropriate, I can offer a same-day or next-day consultation. Time matters with fractures. Earlier review means less swelling, easier reduction, and a cleaner surgical field if fixation is needed. If you have been told a fracture needs orthopaedic follow-up and you are waiting more than a few days, call my rooms and I will triage it directly.

A GP referral is recommended and is the usual pathway. It gives me the clinical context, imaging, and mechanism of injury I need to triage your fracture properly. For acute injuries, an ED discharge summary or a direct physiotherapist referral is also acceptable. If you have private health cover and have just had a fracture, my rooms can process the urgent referral and book you in within 24 hours.

I treat the full spectrum of walking fractures, meaning the fractures that are appropriate for private hospital management rather than major trauma centre care. This includes wrist and distal radius fractures, scaphoid and other carpal injuries, ankle fractures including bi- and tri-malleolar injuries, tibia and fibula fractures, foot and toe fractures, hand and finger fractures, periarticular fractures around the knee, ankle, wrist, and elbow, complex multi-fragment fractures, fragility fractures in older patients, and non-union or malunion referrals. Where surgery is needed, surgical fixation is performed at one of the five Perth hospitals where I operate. Where conservative management is appropriate, I will manage the fracture in a cast or brace with clear follow-up.

In Australia, fracture surgery is typically covered by private health insurance. The out-of-pocket cost varies depending on your insurer, your excess, and whether you have any waiting periods for pre-existing conditions. It also depends on the type of fixation used, whether implants are required, and the duration of any post-operative therapy. For an accurate quote specific to your situation, contact my rooms at admin@jointsolutions.com.au and we will provide a transparent estimate before you commit to anything.

I consult at Subiaco Private Consulting Rooms and St John of God Midland Hospital, and I operate at Hollywood Private Hospital, Bethesda Health Care, St John of God Subiaco, St John of God Mt Lawley, and St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospitals. Patients come from across the Perth metro area and regional Western Australia. Referrals can be sent through Healthlink EDI `jointsln`, by phone to (08) 9243 8133, by mobile to 0447 282 067, or by email to admin@jointsolutions.com.au. All fracture and trauma referrals are reviewed within 24 hours.

Two-view X-rays at minimum, including the joint above and below the fracture, neurovascular status, mechanism of injury, handedness and dominance for upper limb injuries, and current weight-bearing status for lower limb injuries. Send imaging through Healthlink or admin@jointsolutions.com.au so I can review it before the patient arrives. This makes the first consultation more efficient and reduces the number of visits the patient needs.

Open fracture, fracture-dislocation, neurovascular compromise, signs of compartment syndrome, displaced intra-articular fracture, and multi-trauma all warrant urgent discussion. Send these through on Healthlink and I will see them the same day where possible, or arrange direct admission to one of the five Perth hospitals where I operate.

Osteoporotic fragility fractures are often under-treated in the community. Casting alone frequently fails to restore function, and surgical fixation with a volar locking plate is usually the right answer for displaced or unstable distal radius fractures in active older patients. Refer early rather than waiting for failed conservative management. The same applies to other fragility fractures around the wrist, shoulder, and hip.

Any bi- or tri-malleolar fracture, displaced lateral malleolus fracture, or syndesmotic injury warrants orthopaedic referral. Unimalleolar non-displaced fractures can be managed conservatively with clear follow-up and a plan for escalation if displacement occurs. If you are unsure, send the imaging through and I will advise on whether the patient needs to be seen in person.

Most paediatric forearm and wrist fractures are managed in the public system at Perth Children's Hospital. Private referral is appropriate for adolescents near skeletal maturity, complex intra-articular injuries, or failed conservative management. If the family has private cover and would prefer to be seen privately, send the referral through with the imaging and I will triage.

I consult at Subiaco Private Consulting Rooms (144 Churchill Ave, Subiaco WA 6008) and at St John of God Midland Hospital (1 Clayton St, Midland WA 6056). Both have on-site parking and are accessible from the Perth metro and northern suburbs.

I operate at five hospitals across Perth:

• Hollywood Private Hospital (Nedlands) — primary site for ACL and sports knee work
• Bethesda Health Care (Claremont) — orthopaedic and surgical hub
• St John of God Subiaco Hospital — established private surgical hospital
• St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital — convenient for northern suburbs patients
• St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospitals — same-site public and private access

Patients from regional WA are welcomed. If you're referring from a rural practice and the patient needs assistance with travel or accommodation logistics, mention it in the referral letter and my rooms will help coordinate.