Bow legs
Paediatric

Orthopaedics

Useful Management Information

  • An Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Screening clinic (OPSC) may be present at your local Hospital and Health Service. These children maybe streamed for a first review.
  • Consider risk factors and treat or advise accordingly (for example, vitamin D deficiency, obesity, sporting activity)
  • If you have a reason to suspect a child in Queensland is experiencing harm, or is at risk of experiencing harm, you need to contact Child Safety Services Statement of intent – the prioritisation of health services for children and young people in the child protection service

Minimum Referral Criteria

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?
Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days)
  • A child currently in out of home care (OOHC) or at risk of entering or leaving OOHC, where they have previously been on a waiting list for this problem and were removed without receiving a service
Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days)
  • Ongoing pain in lower limbs
  • After a traumatic event
Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days)
  • Persistence of bow legs after three (3) years of age
  • Intercondylar separation > 6 cm
  • Asymmetrical deformity
  • Excessive deformity
  • Progressive deformity
  • Other associated skeletal deformity such as height below 5th percentile for age
  • Joint movement limitation
  • 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

  • Clinical history and examination including key points:
    • evolution and duration of symptoms, and associated complaints (onset, progression)
    • history of infection, trauma, fracture
    • treatment prescribed and efficacy
    • current and past medical history and medications
    • relevant family history associated to this condition i.e. siblings/parents with same condition
    • risk factor for rickets
  • Growth parameters (height below 5th percentile)
  • Observation of gait
  • Weight bearing long leg X-ray if:
    • unilateral deformity
    • progressive deformity
    • lack of spontaneous resolution
    • aged over three years old
  • Confirmation of OOHC (where appropriate)

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

  • Dietary and vitamin intake
Last updated 2 December 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


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.

Child Safety

If you have a reason to suspect a child in Queensland is experiencing harm, or is at risk of experiencing harm, contact Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Services . Please consider if mandatory reporting applies.

Gold Coast Health - For Clinicians
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