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Orthopaedic Services | Waitematā

Public Service, Orthopaedics

Description

What is Orthopaedic Surgery?
Orthopaedic surgery deals with conditions of the musculo-skeletal system (disorders of bones and joints of the limbs and spine). The speciality covers a range of different types of conditions, including congenital (conditions which children are born with) through to degenerative conditions of old age. Orthopaedic surgery also deals with trauma i.e. injuries sustained to the limbs or spine.
 
Nursing staff in our Departments include:
Charge Nurse Manager Ward 7 - Kelly Yang
Charge Nurse Manager Ward 9 - Suzanne Huskinson
Clinical Coach - Victoria MacKay
Trauma Nurse Specialist - Rosemaree Valentine
Acute Nurse Coordinator - Sharnae Silich
Perioperative Nurse Coordinator (Elective Surgery) - Karen George

Consultants

Referral Expectations

Your GP will send us a letter explaining your condition. If you meet the criteria for acceptance to the service an appointment will be made for you, and sent directly to you. Based on the information in your doctor's letter, patients with more serious conditions will be seen earlier.

You will be seen in the outpatient clinic by a specialist doctor who will discuss treatment options with you.

You need to bring with you:

  1. Any letters or reports from your doctor or other hospital.
  2. Any X-Rays, CT or MRI films and reports.
  3. All medicines you are taking including herbal and natural remedies.
  4. Your pharmaceutical entitlement card.
  5. Your ACC number, if you have one.

Procedures / Treatments

Fracture Clinics

These clinics are run by the Orthopaedic Department for patients who have sustained an injury that has already been treated, and a further follow-up of that injury 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, and other treatments started may take some time.
These clinics are run by the Orthopaedic Department for patients who have sustained an injury that has already been treated, and a further follow-up of that injury 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, and other treatments started may take some time.
Orthopaedic Outpatient Clinics

These are clinics for patients who have been referred by their doctor for an orthopaedic opinion on a specific problem. These clinics are 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 and sometimes other investigations will be arranged to help in confirming the diagnosis and best management of the problem.
These are clinics for patients who have been referred by their doctor for an orthopaedic opinion on a specific problem. These clinics are 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 and sometimes other investigations will be arranged to help in confirming the diagnosis and best management of the problem.
Specialty Clinics

These are clinics which specialise in treating specific parts of the body or specific conditions. Examples of these will be an orthopaedic tumour clinic or a spinal clinic. Here the patients with specific problems are seen by the appropriate doctors and support staff for their special needs.
These are clinics which specialise in treating specific parts of the body or specific conditions. Examples of these will be an orthopaedic tumour clinic or a spinal clinic.
Here the patients with specific problems are seen by the appropriate doctors and support staff for their special needs.
Joint Replacement Surgery (Arthroplasty) - Including Patient Information Videos

For elderly patients, joint replacement surgery is commonly required to treat joints damaged from arthritis or other forms of joint disease including rheumatoid arthritis. In these procedures the damaged joint surface is removed and replaced with artificial surfaces which may be metal, ceramic or plastic. These operations are major procedures which require the patient to be in hospital for several days, followed by a period of rehabilitation at home. Occasionally blood transfusions are required. If you have some concerns raise these with your surgeon during consultation. Waitematā DHB Patient Information Videos It is important to ensure you have the support of family and friends and so we encourage you to watch these video presentations with them. By now you will have been in for a specialist assessment at either our Elective Surgery Centre or North Shore Hospital and your surgeon has confirmed your need for surgery. You can assist in the success of your operation and recovery by being well prepared. Most of our patients go home within 3-4 days depending on the type of procedure they have had so we encourage you to give your immediate rehabilitation period your very best shot. The success of your surgery depends greatly on you. Now is the time to start planning for your return home and post-operative rehabilitation. To read an Explanation of Terms used in these videos - click here. Hip Joint Replacement Click on this link to view the hip joint replacement video Knee Joint Replacement Click on this link to view the knee joint replacement video
For elderly patients, joint replacement surgery is commonly required to treat joints damaged from arthritis or other forms of joint disease including rheumatoid arthritis. In these procedures the damaged joint surface is removed and replaced with artificial surfaces which may be metal, ceramic or plastic. 
 
These operations are major procedures which require the patient to be in hospital for several days, followed by a period of rehabilitation at home. 
 
Occasionally blood transfusions are required. If you have some concerns raise these with your surgeon during consultation.
 
Waitematā DHB Patient Information Videos
It is important to ensure you have the support of family and friends and so we encourage you to watch these video presentations with them.

By now you will have been in for a specialist assessment at either our Elective Surgery Centre or North Shore Hospital and your surgeon has confirmed your need for surgery. You can assist in the success of your operation and recovery by being well prepared. Most of our patients go home within 3-4 days depending on the type of procedure they have had so we encourage you to give your immediate rehabilitation period your very best shot. The success of your surgery depends greatly on you. Now is the time to start planning for your return home and post-operative rehabilitation.

To read an Explanation of Terms used in these videos - click here.
 
Hip Joint Replacement
Click on this link to view the hip joint replacement video

 

Knee Joint  Replacement
Click on this link to view the knee joint replacement video

Arthroscopy

An arthroscope is a small fibre optic telescope that can be introduced into a joint and allows surgery to be carried out for certain conditions using fine and small instruments. This eliminates the need for large incisions. Many procedures can be performed as a day stay procedure and quicker return to normal function of the joint is possible. Arthroscopic surgery is less painful than open surgery and decreases the risk of healing problems. Arthroscopy allows access to parts of the joints which cannot be accessed by other types of surgery.
An arthroscope is a small fibre optic telescope that can be introduced into a joint and allows surgery to be carried out for certain conditions using fine and small instruments. This eliminates the need for large incisions. 
 
Many procedures can be performed as a day stay procedure and quicker return to normal function of the joint is possible.
 
Arthroscopic surgery is less painful than open surgery and decreases the risk of healing problems. Arthroscopy allows access to parts of the joints which cannot be accessed by other types of surgery.
Soft Tissue (muscles, tendons and ligaments)

Orthopaedic surgery also includes surgery to muscles, tendons and ligaments. This may be required to alter muscle balance around a joint or to repair one of these damaged structures.
Orthopaedic surgery also includes surgery to muscles, tendons and ligaments.  This may be required to alter muscle balance around a joint or to repair one of these damaged structures.

Document Downloads

Visiting Hours

Visiting times for Wards 7 & 9 are 8am-8pm daily. 

Please arrange with the Charge Nurse for out of hours visiting.

Website

www.waitematadhb.govt.nz/

Contact Details

North Shore Hospital

North Auckland

124 Shakespeare Road
Takapuna
North Shore City 0622

Information about this location

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Street Address

124 Shakespeare Road
Takapuna
North Shore City 0622

Postal Address

North Shore Hospital
Private Bag 93 503
Takapuna
North Shore City 0740

This page was last updated at 8:16AM on December 17, 2021. This information is reviewed and edited by Orthopaedic Services | Waitematā.