Bone and joint injuries
A bone or joint injury to the hip or knee can range from a bad sprain to a broken bone. Some need emergency care the same day; others are best assessed by a specialist once the dust settles. This page explains the difference and how Dr Tsung can help.
Written and reviewed by Dr Jason Tsung, FRACS (Orth) · Last reviewed June 2026
Types of injury
The hip and knee can be injured in several ways:
- Fractures, where a bone breaks, including stress fractures from repeated load and fractures around an existing hip or knee replacement.
- Dislocations, where the joint comes out of place, including a kneecap that dislocates.
- Ligament and tendon injuries from an overstretch or tear, and severe sprains.
- A knee that locks, catches or gives way after a twist or a fall.
When an injury is an emergency
Go to your nearest emergency department now, or call 000 if it's severe, when:
- you can't put any weight on the leg or stand
- the limb looks bent or out of shape
- a bone has broken through the skin
- there's severe pain, rapid swelling, or a joint that's clearly out of place
- the foot or leg is numb, cold or pale, or you can't move the toes.
These need urgent treatment that a clinic can't provide. Once an emergency has been dealt with, Dr Tsung can take over the ongoing care.
When to see Dr Tsung
A referral to Dr Tsung is the right step when:
- pain, swelling or instability in the hip or knee isn't settling
- a fracture has been seen in hospital and now needs specialist follow-up
- an injury involves an existing hip or knee replacement
- the knee keeps locking, catching or giving way (see sports knee injuries).
Injuries around a joint replacement
A fall or a break near an existing hip or knee replacement, called a periprosthetic fracture, needs careful specialist management, because the implant changes how the bone can be treated. Dr Tsung assesses and manages fractures around hip and knee replacements as part of his joint replacement practice.
How an injury is assessed
Dr Tsung will ask how the injury happened, examine the joint, and arrange imaging, usually an X-ray and sometimes a CT or MRI scan. He'll explain what the injury is and what it needs. Treatment ranges from rest, a brace or a cast and a course of rehabilitation, through to surgery when the injury calls for it. Many injuries settle without an operation.
What to do in the meantime
While you're waiting to be seen, rest the limb and avoid putting weight through it, use ice and elevation to control swelling, and take simple pain relief if you need it. If anything in the emergency list above develops, go to an emergency department.
Common questions
Is my injury an emergency?
If you can't bear weight, the limb looks deformed, the bone has broken the skin, or the foot is numb or cold, treat it as an emergency and go to the nearest emergency department. If you're unsure, it's safer to be checked.
Do I need a referral for an injury?
To see Dr Tsung you'll need a referral from your GP or another specialist. In an emergency, go straight to hospital; a referral can follow.
Can you treat a fracture around my hip or knee replacement?
Yes. Fractures near an existing replacement need specialist management, and Dr Tsung assesses and treats them.
Will I need surgery?
Not always. Many fractures and joint injuries are treated without an operation, using a brace or cast and rehabilitation. Surgery is used when the injury needs it, and Dr Tsung will explain why.
How quickly can I be seen?
Urgent referrals are prioritised. Call (07) 5676 9930 and we'll find the earliest suitable time.
Speak to Dr Tsung
For assessment of a hip or knee injury, you'll need a referral from your GP or another specialist. Call reception on (07) 5676 9930 to book your first appointment, or email hello@sgco.au. New patients can pre-register online before the visit; the form prepares your records and does not book an appointment. More on joint replacement and arthritis management.