Achilles tendon pathology and rupture
Adult

Orthopaedics

Useful Management Information

  • Patients with BMI >40 may be deemed unsuitable for surgery due to increased complication rate
  • Backslab or moon boot in equinus for acute or suspected achilles tendon rupture. Review in fracture clinic.
  • Chronic disease requires to be optimised prior to referral or the patients may not proceed to surgery
  • Current smokers will not be considered suitable for surgery on chronic conditions

Minimum Referral Criteria

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?
Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days)
  • Achilles tendon rupture (acute or delayed) if fracture clinic available
Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days)
  • Chronic rupture (>3 months)
Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days)
  • Achilles tendon-related pain or functional impairment that persists despite attempt at non-operative management
  • If the patient does not meet the criteria for referral but the referring practitioner believes the patient requires specialist review, a clinical override may be requested:
    • Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.)
  • Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service.

Essential Referral Information

  • History including pain and associated dysfunction
  • Examination findings including Thompson test if rupture suspected and neurovascular status
  • MRI not required but negates requirement for other imaging if obtained
  • USS for any tendinopathy (not required for Achilles rupture if examination confirms
  • If a specific test result cannot be obtained due to access, financial, religious, cultural or consent reasons a clinical override may be requested. This reason must be clearly articulated in the body of the referral.

Additional Referral Information

  • Management to date
  • X-ray for tendinopathy
Last updated 14 February 2024

Send Referrals To

Smart Referrals

Preferred Method
About Smart Referrals

Secure Web Transfer

Send to: Gold Coast Health Service District

Internal Referrals

Orthopaedics (E-Blueslips)
Orthopaedic Fracture - GCUH
Orthopaedic Fracture - Robina

Fax

(07) 5687 4497

Post

Booking and Referral Centre
Gold Coast University Hospital
1 Hospital Boulevard
Southport QLD 4215

Enquiries

1300 559 083

Related HealthPathways

No directly related pathways found

Service Availability

Dr Will Talbot
Medical Director Orthopaedics

Facilities

Gold Coast University Hospital
Robina Hospital

If you would like to send a named referral, please address it to the specialist listed above, who will allocate a suitably qualified specialist to see the patient. Alternatively, you can view a full list of our specialists.

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