Wrist or hand osteoarthritis

​Emergency

If acute wrist trauma is present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or seek emergency medical advice via phone to on-call consultant/registrar

When public outpatient services are not routinely provided

Inflammatory arthropathy (including crystal arthropathies).

Note: consider referral to rheumatology

Criteria to access public outpatient services

CategoryCriteria
Category 1
Recommended to be seen within 30 calendar days.
  • Wrist or hand pain resulting in rapid deterioration in function
  • History of trauma to wrist or hand (missed fracture)
  • Severe nerve compression of the hand (for example carpal tunnel syndrome)

Category 2
Recommended to be seen within 90 calendar days.

  • Sudden onset pain in wrist or hand < 3 months
  • Chronic deformity of the wrist or hand affecting activities of daily living
  • Severe 1st carpometacarpal osteoarthritis
  • Ganglion, trigger finger or trigger thumb

Note: patients are strongly encouraged to have undertaken a trial of non-operative management (including hand therapy) prior to referral

Category 3
Recommended to be seen within 365 calendar days.

  • Painful or stiff wrist or hand for ≥ 3 months
  • Moderate 1st carpometacarpal osteoarthritis

Note: patients are expected to have undertaken a trial of non-operative management (including hand therapy) prior to referral

Information to include within a referral

Required

  • Reason for referral
  • Details of the presenting condition, including symptoms and their duration, severity, location of pain and impact on function
  • Provisional diagnosis
  • Patient health summary (such as relevant medical history, relevant investigations, current medications and dosages, immunisations, allergies and/or adverse reactions), including specifically:
    • fall or trauma history
    • functional assessment (including range of motion)
    • x-ray: anterior to posterior (AP) and lateral wrist (consider scaphoid) views

If available

  • Relevant pathology
    Note: consider inflammatory arthropathy prior to referral
  • Management to date
  • Medical and/or allied health reports​

Important information for referring health professionals

If there is a change to a patient’s condition while waiting for their appointment, referring health professionals may further investigate and manage the situation, or send an updated referral to the outpatient service. Where there are significant concerns about a patient's condition, referring health professionals may check HealthPathways for urgent/same day advice or contact the relevant clinical team.


 

Current as at: Monday 23 March 2026
Contact page owner: System Purchasing