Undergoing Surgery
During your consultation with Dr Melsom, it may be indicated that you require surgery. At this stage, Dr Melsom will explain the procedure, risks and benefit to you and what is involved during and following your procedure. You will also have to sign a consent form agreeing to the surgery and signifying you understand the procedure.
Once you have completed your consultation, Dr Melsom’s staff will book a date for surgery and provide you with information on what to do prior to your surgery with regards to your admission to the hospital. Most of the hospital now have an online booking system, that you can complete through their website.
You will also be presented with an estimate of fees for the surgery with a breakdown of the estimated rebates you will get back from Medicare and your Health Fund.
All surgical procedures have risks. while your surgeon makes every attempt to minimise risks, complications can occur. Dr Melsom will always outline possible side effects or complications of a surgical procedure. it is important that you have enough information about possible complications to fully weigh up the benefits and risks of surgery.
Our staff will contact you 1-2 days prior to surgery to confirm your admission and fasting details.
Following your surgery, Dr Melsom will give you a post-operation folder, which will have you post operative instructions, follow-up appointments and a referral to a physiotherapist or occupational therapist. It is a crucial part of your recovery to attend your therapy appointments. Dr Melsom works closely with both hand therapists and physiotherapists to ensure that you have the very best outcome from surgery.
Dr Melsom will review you for follow-up around 2-3 weeks following your surgery.
Conditions Dr Melsom Treats.
Dr Melsom specialises in the assessment and treatment (surgical & non-surgical) of a number of hand and upper limb conditions. This section lists many of the common procedures which Dr Melsom performs, but is not an exhaustive list.
For more information on the various procedures, www.handcare.org is a useful patient information website.
Hand
- Arthroplasty / Joint Replacement of the thumb and other small joints of the hand and wrist
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Dupuytren’s Disease
- De Quervain’s Disease
- Flexor Tendon Injuries and Extensor Tendon Injuries
- Golfing Injuries
- Hand & Finger Fractures
- Nail Bed Injuries
- Mallet Finger
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Trigger Finger
- Tendon Transfers
- Soft tissue reconstruction, flaps and grafts
Wrist
- TFC Injuries
- Wrist Arthritis
- Wrist Arthroplasty / Replacement
- Nerve Injuries
- Scaphoid Fracture
- Scaphoid Non-Union
- Wrist Fractures
- Wrist Arthroscopy and keyhole surgical procedures
Elbow
- Elbow injuries
- Elbow arthroscopy
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)
- Elbow replacement
Shoulder
- All aspects of arthroscopic (minimally invasive) shoulder surgery, including arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs, labral repairs for instability, and release of frozen shoulder
- Shoulder Instability
- Rotator cuff pathology
- Shoulder Impingement with Subacromial Decompression (SAD)
- Frozen Shoulder
- Shoulder replacement
Occupational Therapy & Physiotherapy
Occupational therapy and Physiotherapy helps patients regain maximum use of their hand, wrist, elbow or shoulder after an injury, surgery or the onset of disease.
Physiotherapists generally look after the upper arm, shoulder and neck for pre and post operative problems.
Occupational Therapist or Hand Therapists concentrate on the wrist and hand area. The elbow is shared and can be treated by either group depending on their expertise.
Dr Melsom has built up a network of physiotherapists who are well-regarded and the best in their field, and who have specific interest in the treating upper limb conditions. Hand therapists are occupational therapists that undertake sub-specialist training in hand therapy. They teach exercise, apply modalities and create custom splint to aid healing and protect from re-injury.
Dr Melsom refers to a select number of therapists, who provide the highest level of expertise for rehabilitation of patients having undergone surgery on the hand, elbow or shoulder.
Therapists we recommend:
Ekco Occupational Services
Active Physiotherapy
Hands On