Stenosing tenosynovitis conditions
Adult

Orthopaedics

Useful Management Information

  • Adequate chronic disease/lifestyle (SNAP )management is a requirement for most surgical procedures and diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis may directly contribute to disease
  • Active smokers may not be considered suitable for surgery

Minimum Referral Criteria

Does your patient meet the minimum referral criteria?
Category 1 (appointment within 30 calendar days)
  • Fixed trigger finger
Category 2 (appointment within 90 calendar days)
  • Chronic fixed trigger finger
Category 3 (appointment within 365 calendar days)
  • Signs and symptoms consistent with stenosing tenosynovitis (trigger finger) suggested by:
    • Sensation of locking or catching when finger or thumb is bent or straightened
  • May also include pain and stiffness in the finger or thumb
  • Persistent triggering / pain despite adequate 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 of presenting complaint
  • Functional impact including on employment if applicable
  • Management to date. May include:
    • Rest
    • Splinting
    • Analgesics
    • Steroid injection to flexor sheath (minimum of 1 prior to consideration of surgery

Additional Referral Information

  • Imaging not essential but may be useful if diagnosis unclear. Consider:
    • Xray/Ultrasound/MRI
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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