Specialty: Children's Orthopaedic
Age group: Children
Direct to an emergency department
- Hip dislocation
- Suspected joint infection (e.g. child is unwell, listless, flushed, anorexic or is febrile)
- Suspected neck of femur fracture, or fracture requiring manipulation or operation
- Suspected or confirmed slipped upper femoral epiphysis (SUFE).
Criteria for referral to public hospital service
Not applicable.
Information to be included in the referral
Not applicable.
Additional comments
The Minimum information for referrals to non-admitted specialist services lists the information that should be included in a referral request.
All patients with suspected or confirmed slipped upper femoral epiphysis (SUFE), hip dislocation or suspected neck of femur fracture should be referred to an appropriate emergency department for an orthopaedic assessment, public hospital specialist clinics should not receive any referrals for this presenting problem.
Where appropriate and available the referral may be directed to an alternative specialist clinic or service.
Referral to a public hospital is not appropriate for
Not applicable.
Reviewed 02 October 2025