Orthotics at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick

The Orthotics department at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick is a shared service with the Prince of Wales Hospital, providing orthotic care and rehabilitation services to children and adults of both hospitals in an inpatient and outpatient setting. The department specialises in the assessment, design, manufacture and fit of orthoses to support, correct and protect parts of the body like the head, arms, legs and spine.

The orthotics department works with a multidisciplinary and evidence based approach in collaboration with doctors, nurses and other allied health professionals in a range of clinical areas such as cerebral palsy, brain injury, scoliosis, hip dysplasia, foot disorders, spinal cord injuries, plagiocephaly, orthopaedics and neuromuscular conditions. 

Clinic

Orthotics specialists assess patients for orthoses in various multidisciplinary clinics, held in the Hospital’s Outpatients Department. These include the cerebral palsy,  scoliosis, plagiocephaly, neuromuscular, ponseti, spina bifida and general orthopaedic clinics.

Orthotics staff also assess, review and fit patients with orthoses in the Orthotics Department on level 1, Parkes Building, Prince of Wales Hospital, located only metres away from Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick.

Appointments

Patient’s referred from public clinics within the hospital are not charged for our services. Patients referred from outside the hospital are considered a private patient and will be charged accordingly.  If you have a referral please phone the Orthotics Department for an appointment.

Our department uses Consultmed to manage referrals from clinicians. The Consultmed platform allows you to send e-referrals to us securely. Create an account to get started. 

Services

Cerebral Palsy - We make and fit orthoses for cerebral palsy. Orthoses prescribed for cerebral palsy are based on the severity and the areas affected. Most common are AFO, UCBL, FO, SMO, KAFO and Hip Abduction Orthoses. Techniques for casting involves plaster cast and scanning.

Plagiocephaly - We receive referrals for plagiocephaly from neurosurgeons . We do custom made corrective helmets  for plagiocephlay and brachycephaly. We also make protective helmets for post craniotomy and other protective conditions.

Scoliosis - All patients are referred from orthopaedic specialists from within and outside the hospital. We do spinal orthoses for scoliosis such as Cheneau brace and Boston brace.  Techniques for casting involves plaster casts and scanning.

Pectus Carinatum - We fit braces for pectus carinatum. Patients are usually referred from the Chest Wall Clinic in the Outpatients Department.

Spina Bifida - We make and fit orthoses for spina bifida which includes AFO, KAFO, RGO, FO. Casting techniques includes both plaster cast and scanning.

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) - All patients are referred from an orthopaedic specialist from within and outside the hospital. We fit prefabricated hip abduction orthoses such as pavlik harness, correctio brace and rhino brace.  We also make custom made hip abduction orthoses for DDH (for the ones who don’t get the desired correction from the prefababricated orthoses).

Neuromuscular - Orthoses prescribed for neuromuscular conditions are mostly AFO, KAFO, FO. Patients are referred from the neuromuscular clinics by the specialists. Casting techniques includes both plaster cast and scanning.

General Orthopaedics - The orthotics department at the hospital caters to the general orthopaedic referrals such as fracture braces, range of motion braces and cam-walkers.

Talipes Equino-varus (CTEV) - We fit boots and bars prescribed for Congenital Talipes Equino-varus .

Resources

Scoliosis

   Australian Orthotic Prosthetic Association - Factsheet

      https://www.aopa.org.au/documents/item/517

   Scoliosis Australia  -  General Information

      http://www.scoliosis-australia.org/

   Curvy Girls  -  Peer Social Support

      http://www.curvygirlsscoliosis.com/

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

      http://www.healthyhipsaustralia.org.au/

      http://hipdysplasia.org/

Staff

Name                                          Position                                       Area of Expertise

Ruth Baker                                    Manager                                       Paediatrics

Peter Hawes                                  Deputy Manager                           Adults

Roger Dart                                    Orthotist                                       Plagiocephaly

Wayne Borgelt                               Orthotist                                       Scoliosis/Pectus Carinatum

Felicity Williams                            Orthotist                                       Scoliosis

Anastasia Stefanis                         Orthotist                                       Adults

Andrew Summers                          Orthotist                                       Adults/Paediatrics

Rachael Charles                            Orthotist                                       Cerebral Palsy

Harrison Vidler                             Orthotist                                       Paediatrics

Emily Hill                                      Orthotist                                       Pectus Carinatum

Brett Nicholas                               Workshop Manager                           

Robert Lee                                    Allied Health Assistant                      

Stephanie Neeves                          Allied Health Assistant                      

Darren Crowder                             Allied Health Assistant                      

Cheryll Calabia                              Allied Health Assistant                      

Baskaran Kothandan                      Allied Health Assistant                      

Terry Arthur                                  Admin                                           

Sally Rees                                     Admin