Patient Experience

Patient Experience

The Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery provides on-call trauma and fracture care for a catchment area of approximately 400,000 people, catering for simple and complex trauma.

The department is a tertiary referral centre for major trauma, particularly those that involve vascular and soft tissue injuries requiring vascular and plastic surgery reconstruction in addition to their orthopaedic injuries.

The department also provides elective services for patients with acute and chronic musculoskeletal issues requiring reconstruction or joint replacement. We work closely with the National Coagulation Centre for the care of patients with bleeding disorders and musculoskeletal complaints.

    • Upper and lower limb trauma (daily fracture clinics)
    • Hand and wrist
    • Hip
    • Knee
    • Foot and ankle

    We do not perform any spinal surgery in St James’s Hospital.

  • Please ask your GP to forward an electronic Healthlink referral to the Orthopaedic Department (and specify a named consultant, if appropriate) to request an Orthopaedic or Fracture Clinic appointment.

    For emergencies, please attend your nearest Emergency Department.

  • Please specify the relevant body part (or named consultant if appropriate).

    Please feel free to contact us to discuss any particularly difficult cases.

    • Keep the limb elevated as much as possible
    • Elevate lower limbs on pillows when lying down
    • Upper limbs should be elevated on pillows when resting or as instructed by the Orthopaedic Team
    • Exercise all joints regularly
    • Mobilise as directed by the Orthopaedic Team
    • Keep the cast/boot dry, do not remove for washing unless instructed by the Orthopaedic Team
    • Do not place objects inside your cast/boot

    If you have or any concerns or questions or any of the following symptoms, please contact the Plaster Room on (01) 416 2781 or (01) 416 2842 or attend your GP or nearest Emergency Department.

    • Swelling of the toes or fingers
    • Coldness of the toes or fingers
    • Numbness in the toes or fingers
    • Pins and Needles of the toes or fingers
    • If the toes or fingers go blue or white
    • Increased pain in the limb, calf or chest

  • The Virtual Trauma Assessment Clinic is part of a national programme to redesign the traditional face to face fracture clinic model.

    Following attendance in the Emergency Department patients may be referred to the Virtual Trauma Assessment Clinic for an orthopaedic opinion. Patients do not need to attend the hospital for this assessment to take place.

    An orthopaedic consultant will review a patient’s x-rays and notes to determine what treatment is needed. A physiotherapist will contact the patient by phone to discuss treatment and management.

    Contact

    Email: vtac@stjames.ie
    Phone: 087 1989980 (2-4pm Monday to Friday)

Contact Details

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

How to find us

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, second floor, main hospital building
The Orthopaedic Elective and Fracture Clinics, Suite 6, main Outpatient Department

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