Outpatient Clinics

This condition is treated in the Comprehensive Osteoarthritis Pathway (COAP) clinic

Pre-referral work-up

History

All referrals should comply with referral standards and specifically include:

• Walking distance
• Rest pain and disturbance of sleep
• Locking and/or instability (knee)
• Ability to put on shoes (hip)
• Use of walking aids
• Treatment including NSAIDs and analgesics
• Previous joint surgery
• General medical condition and medication
• History of recurring infections and prostatism
• Examination for range of movement, deformity, effusion

Functional interference can also be assessed by completion of the Hip and Knee questionnaire and provide with the referral.

Please also supply current information on particular social information that impacts on urgency, any communication issues, current/past management arrangements (ie physiotherapy, weight loss programs) and constraints to management.

Tests

Knee:

• X-rays of four standard views plus weight bearing AP

Hip:

• X-rays (AP pelvis, AP affected hip showing proximal 2/3 femur and lateral affected hip including weight bearing views).

Interim/GP management

To refer a patient with this condition, please see the Comprehensive Osteoarthritis Pathway (COAP) clinic page for the full referral process and templates.

Review the RACGP guidelines for the non-surgical management of hip and knee  OA and referral for Joint Replacement guide

Direct link to Health Pathways - Hip and Knee folder

For more information please see the Tasmanian Health Pathways website.

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