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Direct to an emergency department for:
- Complex hand fractures
- Multiple metacarpal fractures
- Fracture significantly displaced, angulated, rotated, unable to be reduced
- Open facture(s)
- Unstable fracture
- Deep hand or finger infections
- Suspected neurovascular compromise.
Criteria for referral to public hospital service
Not applicable
Information to be included in the referral
Information that must be provided
Not applicable
Provide if available
Not applicable
Additional comments
The Summary and referral information lists the information that should be included in a referral request.
Patients with these types of acute hand fracture should be referred to an appropriate emergency department for assessment or managed in primary care (including hand therapy). Public hospital specialist clinics should not receive any referrals for types of acute hand fracture.
Where appropriate and available the referral may be directed to an alternative specialist clinic or service.
Referral to a public hospital is not appropriate for
Not applicable