Bone or Joint Infections

This condition is treated in the Orthopaedic surgery clinic.

Pre-referral work-up

History

All referrals should comply to referral standards and include in particular:

• Duration of condition
• Conservative management undertaken
• Previous surgery on area

Tests

• FBE
• ESR
• CRP
• X-ray
• Consider nuclear medicine scan (bone scan)

Interim/GP management

To refer a patient with this condition, please see the Orthopaedic Surgery clinic page for the full referral process and templates.

No antibiotics to be commenced by GP in setting of suspected infection in bone/joint/arthroplasty without first communicating with orthopaedic registrar on call

For more information please see the HealthPathways Tasmania website.

Clinic appointments

? Red location flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.

Urgent (Category 1)

? Bone and/or joint infection

We will endeavour to see these patients within four weeks, or sooner if clinically indicated.

Availability

North

Launceston General Hospital (Level 2)
Phone: 1300 977 694
Fax: 03 6777 5203

Note:  The easiest way to access the clinic is through the Frankland Street entrance (near Cafeteria)

North West

North West Regional Hospital
Phone: 6493 6300
Fax: 6464 1928

Mersey Community Hospital
Phone: 6478 5500 
Fax: 6441 5928

South

Wellington Clinics (Level 12)
Phone: 03 6166 0000
Fax: 03 6234 9636