In this service, we look after people of all ages with broken bones, or if their joints hurt because of wear and tear. This will be because of a long-term problem like arthritis which means they live in chronic pain.
- Trauma is the word we use to describe urgent situations like a badly broken bone. The most common injury we see is a broken hip. This often happens to older people if they fall.
- Orthopaedics is the work we do to fix a known problem with a bone or joint. We plan this work in advance and people will come in for surgery on a certain date. The most common type of operations we do are to give people a new hip or knee joint.
We shorten this to be known as T&O. As well as hips and knees, we also treat feet, ankles, shoulders, elbows and hands. You can find out more about some of the conditions we treat here:
What services do we provide?
If you have a broken bone or injury, our expert T&O team will check this in our virtual trauma clinic. This is usually the day after you have been to ED or urgent care. Our T&O experts will review your x-ray to see how bad the break or injury is.
This is to check that the treatment we gave you in ED or urgent care was enough, or whether you need further review.
Most of the time, we will not get in touch with you again. We only get in touch if you need another appointment. Only a small number of patients will need to be seen face to face. This normally happens within 24 hours of you getting to ED or urgent care. At busy times this check-up may be up to 3 days later.
This is where we have our plaster rooms . You will go here if you need a cast or splint putting on, or taking off.
In Sunderland, our fracture clinic is next to urgent care.
In South Tyneside, our fracture clinic is in the main outpatients department.
If you are 50 or older and break a bone after a simple fall, we will see you in this clinic. We will assess your bones to make sure there is not an underlying problem. We may do a bone density (DEXA) scan to see your bones. We will also give you advice on good bone health.
Our aim is help you to reduce the risk of more serious injuries in the future. We will give you a follow-up call after 120 days (four months) to see how you are doing. We will also make sure we let your GP know.
If you have a badly broken bone, we will do the operation as soon as we can. This is usually on the same day or day after you arrive to hospital. You will stay in a bit hospital longer than if it was a planned operation. This is because your injury is more serious and we need to make sure you are ok.
If we think you need an operation on a bone or joint, we will plan this with you. This is one of our busiest areas of surgery so you will have to wait. As soon as we can, we will give you a date for your surgery.
You will have an appointment with us first. You will also need to come for a pre-op assessment. Most of the planned surgery we do happens on the same day or with a short stay. Most people go home on the same day as their operation.
Who will look after me?
A specialist team will look after you in T&O. This includes:
- Consultants and other doctors
- Nurses and healthcare assistants
- Fracture nurses
- Physios
- Occupational Therapists
They are all are experts in helping you to recover. Together, we will agree a plan to help you get back to normal. They will explain how you can do physio and gentle exercises to build back your strength.
Where will my treatment take place?
In South Tyneside, our fracture clinic is in the main outpatients department. In Sunderland, our fracture clinic is next to urgent care.
If you have surgery and need to stay in hospital this will usually be on one of the following wards.
- Ward 1 – South Tyneside (click here)
- Ward D42 – Sunderland (click here)
- Ward D48 – Sunderland (click here)
For a full list of our Trust locations (click here).
Your appointment letter will let you know which location to go to.
Where can I find out more?
Hand and finger injuries - click here
Mallet finger injury - click here
Volar plate injury - click here
Elbow injury - click here
Foot injury - click here
Ankle injury - click here
Advice if you need to wear an Orthopaedic brace - click here
Broken hip - click here
Support while you wait for surgery - click here
Pre-op care for older people (POPs clinic) - click here
Knee replacement - click here
Knee arthroscopy - click here
Hip replacement - click here
Ankle replacement - click here
Lumbar spinal fusion surgery - click here
External fixator frames - click here
Pin site care - click here
Support after surgery - click here
Calf lengthening surgery - click here
Hip spica cast care - click here
Developmental hip dysplasia - click here
Tibialis anterior tendon transfer - click here
Our senior team in T&O
- Divisional Director - Sheena Fish
- Associate Divisional Director - Caroline Bell
- Clinical Director – Murali Krishnan
- Directorate Manager – Sarah Atkinson
- Matron - Lesley Dobson
Our consultants
- Mr Parvin Bansal
- Mr Graham Chuter
- Mr Alan Cooney
- Mr Sam Dalal
- Mr Thomas Dehler
- Mr Daniel Dowen
- Mr Stephen Green
- Ms Marie-Claire Killen
- Mr Ling Hong Lee
- Mr Jan Luigi Marciniak
- Mr Yusuf Michla
- Mr Ananda Nanu
- Mr Barry Shaun O'Brien
- Mr Balaji Purushotaman
- Mr Jared Quarcoopome
- Mr Sarang Sapare
- Mr Andrew Waton
