Tetraplegic Hand Clinic - Royal North Shore Hospital

• Provide advice regarding conservative management and optimisation of upper limb function in people with Tetraplegia. 
• Provide access to reconstructive surgery options for those with tetraplegia. 

• Relevant images/scans (including CT or MRI scan of affected area) 
• List of current medications and drug allergies
• Your referral letter from your GP/Specialist

Most people with tetraplegia will be reviewed at the Tetraplegic Hand Clinic during their initial rehabilitation period, however we also accept referrals for those with established cervical spinal cord injury. You will be referred to our service if your treating doctor feels that your upper limbs require review by our hand surgeon. Once we receive the referral it will be triaged, and you will be notified of the outcome and next steps. Please allow at least 4 weeks for this process to be undertaken. All initial assessments are face to face with the opportunity for some follow up via telehealth. 

Please note that phone calls from the hospital will appear as a blocked number. 

If you have a scheduled appointment, you may receive a reminder text message. 

Please allow a full afternoon for your appointment. Some patients require a longer review and delays can occur. 

Indications for referral for clinic appointment 

• Cervical level spinal cord Injury (Tetraplegia) with upper limb impairment 

Out of NSLHD 

• The tetraplegic hand clinic at RNHS accept referrals for all people with tetraplegia residing in NSW & ACT. 

The following information must be included for referral to be accepted: 

• Level of spinal cord injury, mechanism & date of injury 
• Upper limb issues to be addressed. 
• Relevant concurrent upper limb conditions 

Please consider addressing referrals to Dr James Ledgard

Providing more information will aid the triage process and make it more likely that your patient will be seen in the most timely manner possible 

Please submit referrals using the eReferral system through HealthLink, which can be accessed through most clinical software systems 

Alternatively, address letters to Dr James Ledgard and email to: [email protected]

Referrals will be triaged, and your patient will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible. This process may take between 1-4 weeks. You will be contacted if more information is needed. 

All initial assessments must be face to face with the opportunity for some follow up via telehealth if appropriate. 
 

Your Team 

• Dr James Ledgard - Hand, wrist & reconstructive plastic surgeon. Specialist in reconstructive surgery in Tetraplegia 
• Helen Patterson – Senior Physiotherapist & Tetraplegic Hand Clinic Coordinator