You can book directly, without a GP referral. Some medical aid plans only pay specialist benefits if you have one, though, so check with your scheme first. If you’re not sure which surgeon to see, use our condition finder or choose “Not sure – please advise” when you book.
Your surgeon will ask about your symptoms, how and when they started, what makes them better or worse, and how they affect your work, sport and daily life. They’ll then examine you.
Most orthopaedic conditions also need imaging to confirm the diagnosis:
• X-rays show bones and joints, and are often done on the day of your consultation.
• MRI scans show soft tissues such as ligaments, tendons, cartilage, discs and nerves.
• CT scans give detailed three-dimensional images of bone, and are useful for complex fractures and surgical planning.
• Ultrasound can assess tendons and soft tissues, and guide injections.
• Nerve conduction studies test how well a nerve is working, for example in carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Blood tests may be needed to check for infection or inflammation, or before surgery.
Some investigations need pre-authorisation from your medical aid. The rooms will tell you if yours does.
Once the diagnosis is clear, your surgeon will explain your options. For many conditions, treatment starts without surgery:
• Physiotherapy and exercise programmes
• Pain relief and anti-inflammatory medication
• Injections into or around a joint
• Splints, braces, casts or supportive footwear
• Changes to activity, work or training
Surgery is recommended when non-surgical treatment hasn’t helped, is unlikely to help, or when the injury needs an operation to heal properly, as with many fractures. Your surgeon will explain what the operation involves, the expected recovery, and the risks. You’re welcome to take time to decide, bring a family member to the discussion, or ask for a second opinion.
If you and your surgeon decide on surgery, the rooms will book your theatre date and give you the procedure codes. You then obtain pre-authorisation from your medical aid. Before your operation, you may need blood tests or other checks, and you’ll meet the anaesthetist, who will discuss the anaesthetic with you.
Many arthroscopic (keyhole) procedures are done as day surgery, so you go home the same day. Joint replacement, spinal surgery and major fracture surgery usually need a hospital stay of a few days.
Rehabilitation is as important to the result as the operation itself, and much of it is in your hands. Your surgeon will set out a plan, and a physiotherapist will guide you through it. Most orthopaedic rehabilitation follows four broad phases, though the timing differs from one procedure and one person to the next.
Follow-up visits let your surgeon check that you’re healing as expected and adjust your rehabilitation. A typical schedule after surgery is:
• A wound check and removal of stitches or clips at about 10 to 14 days (sometimes done by the hospital or your GP)
• A review at about six weeks, often with an X-ray to check bone healing or implant position
• Further reviews at about three months and, for larger operations, six and twelve months
• After joint replacement, periodic long-term check-ups, sometimes with X-rays, to monitor the implant over the years
Your surgeon will give you your own schedule. Keep your follow-up appointments even if you feel well, because some problems, such as delayed bone healing or early implant wear, can be picked up on X-ray before they cause symptoms.