The Prince Charles Hospital

Paediatric Soft Tissue Injury Clinic

Fracture Clinic Physio-Only Referrals

Appropriate referrals include paediatric patients seen and discharged with soft tissue injuries that do not require further orthopaedic
management but would benefit from brief physio involvement/screening. (See below for further details of appropriate referrals)

Refer as per usual to the fracture clinic with the fracture clinic form.
http://qheps.health.qld.gov.au/childrenshealth/resources/clinforms/docs/658705.pdf
Please specify Soft Tissue Injury Clinic and TPCH.

Referrals will be triaged by the director of Orthopaedics at Queensland Children’s Hospital and booked as a category 1. Orthopaedic review
is available at the physiotherapist’s discretion.
 Soft Tissue Clinic Referral Pathway

TPCH ED patient with Soft Tissue Injury which

does not require further orthopaedic
management

Would they benefit from a physiotherapy review

to ensure return of ROM/function?

Quick check or 1-2 sessions with Ongoing or long-term physio

potential for Orthopaedic Input follow-up required

Complete TPCH Fracture Clinic referral form Consider OPD referral (TPCH or local hospital),
(found on QHEPS). Private PT or community options

Mark clearly ‘Soft Tissue Clinic’ or ‘Physio’

Fax to LCCH, fax no. on the form

Patient will be booked into the Soft Tissue Clinic

at TPCH on Friday afternoons and seen by
physio according to triage category.
 DEM Soft Tissue Injury Referral Criteria: “Fracture Clinic” Vs “Soft Tissue Injury Clinic” (STIC)
LOWER LIMB “FRACTURE CLINIC” REFERRAL “SOFT TISSUE INJURY CLINIC” REFERRAL
“ANKLE/FOOT SPRAINS” - “Ankle and foot ligament sprains” with fracture including - “Ankle and foot ligament sprains” (all grades) without fracture
avulsion fractures.
- Suspected syndesmoses injury
- Lisfranc Injury
- “Ankle/Foot sprains” that need further investigation or - Traction apophysitis (severs, peroneal brevis), tendinopathy
orthopaedic consultation (Achilles, peroneal tendon, tibialis posterior)

KNEE INJURIES - 1ST time PFJ dislocation with osteochondral lesions/fracture - 1st time PFJ dislocation without osteochondral lesions
- Recurrent PFJ dislocators
- Grade II -III ligament injuries of the knee - Grade I ligament injuries of the knee
- Fractures, avulsion fractures of the knee - Acute muscle strains or contusions
- Knee injuries that require further investigation or orthopaedic - Acute traction apophysitis without an avulsion fracture.
consultation
HIP - All other hip diagnoses -Muscle strains, contusions, acute traction apophysitis without
fracture.
UPPER LIMB “FRACTURE CLINIC” REFERRAL SOFT TISSUE INJURY CLINIC REFERRAL
“SHOULDER - 1st time shoulder dislocation with hill-sachs lesion OR bony - 1st time shoulder dislocation without hill-sachs lesion, bony bankart
DISLOCATIONS” bankart lesion OR neurovascular involvement. lesion and without neurovascular involvement.
- Recurrent shoulder dislocations
- Rotator cuff tears - Rotator cuff tendinopathy without tears, sub-acromial bursitis
ELBOW INJURIES - All other injuries - Contusions, tendinopathy
WRIST INJURIES - All other injuries - Muscle and tendon injuries
FINGER INJURIES - Structural finger and toe deformities - Non-structural finger injuries
SPINAL “FRACTURE CLINIC” REFERRAL “SOFT TISSUE INJURY CLINIC” REFERRAL
CERVICAL, THORACIC, - Spinal fractures, stress reactions/stress fractures, spinal - Acute spinal pain without fracture or neurological signs. (I.e.
LUMBAR pathology with neurological signs. discogenic, facet joint, costo-vertebral, muscular)
- Torticollis