The orthopaedic medical and nursing staff provide the following services:

• Elective (planned) outpatient clinics
• Operating lists (day case and inpatient procedures)
• Fracture clinics
• Therapy-led services
• Children’s services
• Nerve conduction studies (to test how well the nerves carry signals between different parts of the body)
• Plaster room facilities
• Pre-operative assessments
• Two X-ray rooms within the outpatient department at the Royal Bolton Hospital and one X-ray room on the ground floor at Bolton One.

Specialist Services – Royal Bolton Hospital

The department offers specialist services in revision hip and knee arthroplasty (repair or replacement of the joint), hip arthroscopy (keyhole surgery of the hip), and the treatment of young patients requiring hip surgery.  We provide specialist upper limb and foot and ankle services and also provide specialist classes for patients and carers in preparation for joint replacement surgery.

Orthopaedic Interface Service – Bolton One

The Orthopaedic Interface service based at Bolton One provide spinal, general and foot and ankle clinics. The service act as an interface between primary care and the Trauma & Orthopaedic team based at Royal Bolton Hospital. The service offers a number of options prior to surgery such as injections, referrals to physiotherapy, biomechanics and various other treatment options.

Access to the elective orthopaedic service is made via your GP.

Your GP will arrange an appointment either through the national Choose and Book service or will write to the department requesting for you to be seen.

Access to the trauma service is generally via Accident and Emergency (A&E) but GP Direct is also a route into the trauma service. GPs can use the GP Direct service to liaise directly with clinical staff if they require specialist advice on a patient’s injury or need to admit patients to A&E or other areas within the organisation.

In our plaster room we apply different types of plaster casts, which allow broken bones to heal by holding them in place.

Plaster casts are made up of a bandage and a hard covering (usually plaster of Paris). They usually need to stay on for between 4 to 12 weeks.

We are based on the ground floor of the Royal Bolton Hospital, in F block, near to the Same Day Emergency Care department.

How should I care for my plaster cast?

Looking after your plaster cast means you’ll recover much faster. Here’s our advice on how to keep your plaster in good condition.

Plaster cast care advice:

• Keep your arm or leg raised on a soft surface such as a pillow for as long as possible in the first few days. This will help any swelling to go down and will help the cast dry correctly.
  • Don’t get your plaster cast wet. This will weaken it, and your bone will no longer be properly supported.
  • You can discuss the use of waterproof protectors with the healthcare professional who consults with you or the plaster technicians.
  • If the plaster cast makes your skin feel very itchy, don’t be tempted to poke anything underneath it in order to scratch the skin, as this could cause a nasty sore. The itchiness should settle down after a few days.

More plaster cast tips:

• Exercise any joints that aren’t covered by the cast such as your elbow, knee, fingers or toes to help improve your circulation.
  • Avoid getting small objects, powders and sprays inside your cast, as they could irritate your skin.
  • Don’t try to alter the length or position of you cast.
  • Don’t lift anything heavy or drive until the cast has been removed.
  • Please use crutches or a sling, if advised by your healthcare professional.
  • Please consider the use of painkillers if you experience any pain.

Helping children with plaster casts:

Having a cast fitted can be scary and unsettling, particularly for young children, or if you are neurodivergent, have learning difficulties or other sensory needs that may make it more difficult for you.

We’ve created this handy guide to having a plaster cast put on, which can help you familiarise you and/or your child to hopefully make it a less stressful experience. Our friendly team are on hand at all times to support and settle you during the process.

Keep your arm or leg raised on a soft surface such as a pillow for as long as possible in the first few days. This will help any swelling to go down and will help the cast dry correctly.

Any questions?

If you have any concerns or questions, please contact the team in the Plaster Room who will be happy to help.

Please find below information to help you prepare for your planned total knee or total hip surgery at Bolton Hospital.

The videos and presentations will explain what to expect during your admission, your post op recovery and ongoing rehabilitation.

You will also find the questionnaire we ask you to fill in prior to attending our pre op education class; this will help us establish if you have any additional needs on leaving hospital. Please feel free to return it to us via the email address below.

If you need to discuss anything with our elective therapy staff please see below for our contact details:

• Tel: 01204 390314
• Email: Preoptherapy@boltonft.nhs.uk

Preparing you for your Knee Replacement

If you and your surgeon decide that knee replacement is the best treatment for you, our team will give you the information you need to prepare, including personalised instructions, during appointments before your surgery. To get started, here are the basics.

Preparing you for your Hip Replacement surgery

If you and your surgeon decide that hip replacement is the best treatment for you, our team will give you the information you need to prepare, including personalised instructions, during appointments before your surgery. To get started, here are the basics.

Preparing you for your Shoulder Replacement surgery

If you and your surgeon decide that shoulder replacement is the best treatment for you, our team will give you the information you need to prepare, including personalised instructions, during appointments before your surgery. To get started, here are the basics.

Post Knee Replacement Surgery

Total Hip Replacement

Advice following a fracture

Please find information here which will help you to recover following a pelvic fracture.

Pubic Rami Fracture

Orthopaedic Boot Advice

Please find Orthopaedic boot advice for patients, families and carers here.

Download and print as a PDF: Orthopaedic Boot Advice

• Mr Wilson /Hodgson – 01204 390343
• Zeiton/Marley – 01204 390591
• Wall/Mace – 01204 390438
• Jarratt/Childs – 01204 390738
• Wykes/Mulgrew – 01204 390834
• A, Court/Hastie – 01204 390374
• Yates/Watmough – 01204 390377
• Pollet – 01204 390439