We recommend that adults and children over 12 wear face masks when attending our clinic, but no longer provide masks to patients and carers. Videoconsultations are conducted via telehealth at our dedicated virtual clinic. We are experiencing high demand for appointments hence require that all patients provide a referral prior to booking an appointment so that we can identify and manage urgent and emergency conditions in a timely manner, and so that our surgeons can assess your suitability for a telehealth appointment and identify any further information or tests that might be required before your consultation. If our surgeons assess that your condition (especially recent injuries) is best managed with hand therapy rather than surgery we may recommend that you see a qualified hand therapist (physiotherapist or occupational therapist) rather than schedule an appointment with our surgeons. Dr Tomlinson does not offer consultations and surgical services where a Medicare Rebatable Item Code does not apply; this includes injections for palmar hyperhidrosis. Dr Tomlinson has scheduled sabbatical leave during much of October, November and December 2023 so will not be available for urgent or emergency referrals during that time.

Blood thinners & hand surgery

Created 11 January 2012, last modified 15 February 2016

If you regularly take a blood thinning medication to prevent strokes, heart attacks, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolus or other types of blood clots your medication list will include one of the following medications:

aspirin
clopidogrel (other names include Plavix®, Iscover®, Piax®, DuoCover®, CoPlavix®)
warfarin (other names include Coumadin®, Marevan®)
clexane

hands dialing phone If there is a good reason for you to take this medication it is usually appropriate for you to continue with your medication around the time of hand surgery. Commonly the risks and potential outcomes of stopping the medication (like a stroke or heart attack) are worse than the risk of increased post operative bruising and bleeding in hand surgery.

If you are taking blood thinning medications we need to discuss this prior to your surgery and determine what should be done. Please do not stop your medication without obtaining medical advice. In most instances I will be able to perform your hand surgery without ceasing your anticoagulant medications.

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