Contacting me with questions
I am happy for GP colleagues to phone me with brief questions during consultation hours. Alternatively, if your question does not need an answer straight away, you may wish to email me instead – please use the form provided in "Contact Us" section.
Hints and tips
Imaging Guidelines
- Foot – When taking x-rays of the foot, it is helpful to ask for weight-bearing views.
- If you do a foot x-ray, also do an ankle x-ray – and vice versa
- Knee – If you suspect a meniscal tear or ligamentous injury, it is worth requesting an MRI prior to seeing orthopaedic specialist. Often patients will incur a similar out of pocket expense regardless of the referrer. If you are unsure which investigation to order, please fax me your referral and clinical details so that I can advise you on the appropriate investigation. I am also happy to provide an imaging (MRI) referral at your request.
- Remember the referred knee pain from the hip.
Referrals
- If your patient needs an urgent appointment, please provide me with a referral letter detailing the reason for urgency.
- Patients with heel pain may benefit from seeing a podiatrist or a physiotherapist prior to seeing me. In many cases, the combination of rest, time, and using shoe orthotics, allows the pain to completely resolve over 3-6 months and a specialist review may not be necessary.
- Patients with severe ankle sprains with persistent symptoms beyond 2 months, and fail non-surgical treatments such as physiotherapy, may also benefit from further MRI work-up prior to seeing a specialist.
Advice to patients
- It is always easier to change the environment around the foot (such as shoes, splints and orthotics) than structure of the foot, therefore consider podiatrist and orthotist in your first line management.
- Foot surgery can take a long time to heal, sometimes 6 months or more before the pain settles to pre-operative state and function is fully re-gained. When done for the right patient, surgery is extremely worthwhile – but usually only after all other options are exhausted.
- Other things to consider prior to surgery include driving requirements, home modifications, etc – see "Info or Patients" section.
- The difference between podiatrist and foot surgeon – see "FAQs" section.
Medical grade footwear for patients
(Disclaimer: nil commercial interest)
Medicare foot wear, braces, boots:
- Medical Accessories of Australia (West Burleigh, QLD – Ph: 07 5508 2730)
- Orthocare (Andrews, QLD – Ph: 07 5520 3666 or 1800 226 445)
Orthotists:
- Comfort & Fit (Burleigh Heads, QLD – Ph: 07 5576 7802)
- Gold Coast Orthotics (Molendinar, QLD – Ph: 07 5597 5222)
Handouts for GPs from Dr Won's talks
- The Rolled Ankle [PDF, 117KB]
- Hands on Feet [PDF, 138KB]
- Acquired Flatfoot Deformity [PDF, 2.57MB]
- Bunions and Turnips [PDF, 7.63MB]
Useful links
Patient information
Eorthopod website
www.eorthopod.com
American Orthopedic Foot And Ankle Society website
www.aofas.org
Dr Myerson's website
www.mdmercy.com/footandankle
Some useful websites, products and services
(Disclaimer: nil commercial interest)
John Flynn Hospital website
www.johnflynnprivate.com.au
Pindara Hospital website
www.pindaraprivate.com.au
Synvisc website
www.genzyme.com
Queensland Lithotripsy Service website
www.qldlitho.com.au