Patient Services

The role of Wesley Hand Centre is the assessment and treatment (surgical & non-surgical) of the following conditions:

Acute hand & wrist injuries – fractures, dislocations, tendon & nerve injuries
Carpal tunnel syndrome & other compressive
neuropathies
Sports injuries of the hand & wrist
Arthritis of the hand & wrist
Tendonitis
Dupuytren’s contracture
Tumours, lumps, ganglions
Post-traumatic reconstruction
Tendon transfers for nerve palsy
Undiagnosed hand & wrist pain

We work closely with specialist Hand Therapists in the patient’s local area to optimise the results of treatment.

What is Hand Surgery?
What is Hand Therapy?
Why visit a Hand Surgeon?

What is Hand Surgery?

Our hands serve many purposes. Hands help us eat, dress, write, earn a living, create art, and do many other activities. To do these tasks and activities, our hands require sensation and movement, such as joint motion, tendon gliding, and muscle contraction. When a problem takes place in the hand, care must be given to all the different types of tissues that make function of the hand possible.

Hand surgery is the field of medicine that deals with problems of the hand, wrist and forearm.
Hand surgeons may be able to care for these problems without surgery, but are specially trained to operate when necessary.
Hand surgeons are orthopedic, plastic or general surgeons who have additional training in surgery of the hand.

To become members of the Australian Society for Surgery of the Hand, Hand Surgeons must undertake additional training and are only eligible for membership after two years of full time practice in hand surgery and supportive references from senior Hand Surgeon colleagues.

What is Hand Therapy?

Hand therapy helps a patient regain maximum use of his or her hand after injury, surgery or the onset of disease. Treatment is provided by a hand therapist, someone who is first trained as an occupational therapist or physiotherapist and then receives additional training in hand therapy.

Hand therapists teach exercises, apply modalities and create custom splints to help the hand heal and protect it from additional injury.

You may be referred to one of the following Hand Therapy Practices near your home for regular visits after your injury or surgery.

Brisbane & Outer Suburbs

EKCO Occupational Services
Spring Hill, South Brisbane, Chermside
07 3833 3222
Extend Rehabilitation
Brisbane 07 3834 7060
Buranda 07 3391 2922
Chermside 07 3256 4001
Hands On
Carina, Indooroopilly, Cleveland, Springwood, Sunnybank
07 3843 6605
Northside Hand & Upper Limb Clinic
North West Medical Centre, Everton Park
07 3205 7019
Hand Therapy Clinics
Canossa Medical Centre, Oxley 07 3800 7552
Browns Plains 07 3800 8552

Ipswich

EKCO Occupational Services
07 3833 3222
Hands On
07 3843 6605

Toowoomba

Toowoomba Hand Therapy (Jo O'Sullivan)
St Vincents Hospital
07 4632 6672

Gold Coast, Tweed & Tugun

Gold Coast Hand Therapy
(Carla Bingham) Biggera Waters, Tugun
07 5500 5617
David Coles
Gold Coast Surgery Centre, Southport
07 5534 1272
Dan Bock, Southport to Murwillumba
0407 947 554
Extend Rehabilitation
John Flynn Medical Centre, Tugun
07 3391 2922

Sunshine Coast

Performance Physio & Rehab (Bev Trevithick),
Mooloolaba
07 5444 0394
Sunshine Coast Hand Therapy (Katie Whittle),
Maroochydore
07 5443 5474

Why Visit a Hand Surgeon?

The hand is a unique area of the human body that is made up of bone, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves, skin, and blood vessels. These elements must all be in good working order for the hand to function well. The relationship between all these structures is delicate and refined. An injury or disease can affect any or all of these structures and impair the use of the hand.

A qualified hand surgeon is trained to diagnose and treat all problems related to these different structures in the hand, wrist, and forearm.

Hand surgeons have received specialised additional training in the treatment of hand problems in addition to their Royal Australasian College of Surgeons specialty training in orthopaedic surgery, plastic surgery, or general surgery.

Some hand surgeons treat only children, some treat only adults, and some treat both. Common problems treated include carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, wrist pain, sports injuries of the hand and wrist, fractures of the hand, wrist, and forearm, and trigger fingers. Other problems treated by hand surgeons include arthritis, nerve and tendon injuries, and congenital limb differences (birth defects).

Not all problems treated by a hand surgeon need surgery. Hand surgeons often recommend non-surgical treatments, such as medication, splints, therapy, and injections. Hand surgeons are specialists devoted to hand care.

If you have pain in your fingers, hand, wrist or arm, or have other upper-extremity related concerns, you may want to consult a hand surgeon.

Downloads

Click to download more information on the following conditions (PDF).