Patient Education

Paying for Surgery: ACC, Insurance and Self-Funding

Paying for Surgery: ACC, Insurance and Self-Funding

How is orthopaedic surgery paid for in New Zealand? A guide to ACC cover and approval, private health insurance, self-funding and the public hospital system, and the questions to ask before surgery is booked.

, ,

SLAP Tear: Diagnosis and Treatment

, ,
SLAP Tear: Diagnosis and Treatment

A SLAP tear is an injury to the top of the shoulder socket where the biceps tendon attaches. It’s common in overhead athletes. Here’s how it’s diagnosed and why biceps tenodesis is now the preferred treatment.

, ,

Meniscal Tears: Diagnosis and Treatment

, ,
Meniscal Tears: Diagnosis and Treatment

A meniscal tear is the most commonly injured structure in the knee. This guide explains the difference between traumatic and degenerative tears, how each is diagnosed, and when surgery is needed.

, ,

Knee Cartilage Surgery: When Cartilage Damage Needs Treatment

, ,
Knee Cartilage Surgery: When Cartilage Damage Needs Treatment

Articular cartilage has no blood supply and cannot self-repair. This guide explains what happens when cartilage in the knee is damaged, when surgery is the right option, and what the main procedures involve.

,

Patellar Instability: Why the Kneecap Dislocates and How It's Treated

,
Patellar Instability: Why the Kneecap Dislocates and How It's Treated

A guide to patellar instability - what causes the kneecap to dislocate, why it tends to happen again, and what the options are when physiotherapy is not enough.

,

Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)

,
Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI)

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a condition in which the shape of the hip joint causes abnormal contact between the ball and socket. It is one of the most common causes of hip pain in active adults - and one of the most frequently missed diagnoses in primary care.

, ,

ACL Reconstruction: What You Need to Know

, ,
ACL Reconstruction: What You Need to Know

ACL Reconstruction: A guide to diagnosis, surgery, graft options, recovery, and ACL management in children and adolescents.

, ,

Shoulder Instability: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

, ,
Shoulder Instability: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

A guide to shoulder instability after dislocation - what causes it, why some shoulders keep dislocating, and what the options are when physiotherapy is not enough.

, ,

Hip Labral Tear: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

, ,
Hip Labral Tear: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

A hip labral tear is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed causes of deep groin pain in young adults - often labelled as a hip flexor problem or bursitis for a year or more before the correct diagnosis is reached. This guide covers what the labrum does, what causes it to tear, how it is diagnosed, and when treatment is appropriate.

,

PAO Surgery: A Complete Guide for Patients with Hip Dysplasia

,
PAO Surgery: A Complete Guide for Patients with Hip Dysplasia

Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is the most effective surgical treatment for hip dysplasia in young adults, but it's performed by very few surgeons in New Zealand. This guide covers who's a candidate, what the surgery involves, and what recovery really looks like.

,

Hip Dysplasia in Adults: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment in New Zealand

,
Hip Dysplasia in Adults: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment in New Zealand

Hip dysplasia is one of the most underdiagnosed causes of groin pain, often mistaken for a muscle strain for years before the real cause is found. Learn the symptoms, how it's diagnosed, and the treatment options available in New Zealand.

, ,

Rotator Cuff Tears: When Is Surgery the Right Choice?

, ,
Rotator Cuff Tears: When Is Surgery the Right Choice?

Not every rotator cuff tear needs surgery, and not every one that needs it needs it urgently. This article breaks down exactly what determines whether physiotherapy or repair is the right path for your specific tear.