Working from the same protocol
Most of Dr Hirpara's post-operative patients do their rehabilitation with a physiotherapist or hand therapist close to home — Rockhampton, Yeppoon, Gladstone, Emerald, Mackay, Bundaberg and beyond. This page covers how the practice's rehabilitation protocols reach you, where the full library lives, and how to reach the practice about a shared patient.
A QR code on every referral
Every physiotherapy and hand-therapy referral from the practice carries a printed QR code linking to that patient's rehabilitation protocol — customised to the operation performed, not a generic template. Scanning it lands on the protocol page with the phased programme, the precautions, and the early exercise cards the patient has already been shown.
Each protocol page pairs a plain-English explanation of every stage (written for the patient) with the structured programme and a printable PDF. Patients are given the same link, so you, the patient and the practice are all working from one document.
Protocol milestones are set by surgical healing — what was repaired and what it can take at each stage. Where a patient is well ahead of or behind the protocol, ring the practice before advancing loading or range; an early phone call is always welcome.
The full library is public
Every protocol is published open-access at cqupperlimb.com/education/rehabilitation/ — no login, no request pathway. Bookmark the ones you use.
Shoulder protocols
- AC Joint Stabilisation
- Anterior Bankart Repair
- Biceps Tenodesis
- Calcific Tendinitis
- Capsular Release
- Clavicle Fixation (ORIF)
- Comprehensive Arthroscopic Management (CAM)
- Distal Clavicle Excision
- Latarjet Procedure
- Pectoralis Major Repair
- Posterior Stabilisation
- Shoulder Replacement for Fracture
- Proximal Humerus Fixation (ORIF)
- Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty
- Rotator Cuff Repair
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Subacromial Decompression
- Suprascapular Nerve Decompression
- Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Elbow protocols
- Cubital Tunnel Release
- Radial Tunnel Release
- Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow)
- Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer's Elbow)
- Distal Biceps Tendon Repair
- Distal Triceps Tendon Repair
- Olecranon Fracture (ORIF)
- Radial Head Replacement
- Elbow Instability
- Stiff Elbow Release (Arthrolysis)
- Total Elbow Replacement (Arthroplasty)
Hand & wrist protocols
- Carpal Tunnel Release
- de Quervain's Release
- DIP Joint Fusion
- Distal Radius Fracture (ORIF)
- DRUJ Hemiresection Arthroplasty
- Dupuytren's Release
- Extensor Tendon Repair
- Finger Surgery
- Flexor Sheath Ganglion Excision
- Flexor Tendon Repair
- Mallet Finger
- MCP Joint Replacement
- Partial Wrist Fusion
- PIP Joint Fusion
- PIP Joint Replacement
- Scaphoid Fixation
- Thumb Base Joint Replacement (Touch)
- Trigger Finger Release
- Wrist Arthroscopy
- Wrist Fusion
- Wrist Ganglion Excision
Exercise guides
Reviews, red flags and escalation
Post-operative patients are reviewed by the practice at the protocol checkpoints for their operation; your findings between those reviews are valuable, and a short note with the patient at their next review is always read.
Escalate early rather than late: a wound that looks infected, pain that is escalating rather than settling, a repair you suspect has failed, new neurological signs, or simply a patient who is not progressing as the protocol expects. Phone 07 4863 6556 and ask for a clinical callback — same-day where possible. Written correspondence: office@cqupperlimb.com.au or Medical Objects (CQ Hand + Upper Limb, provider 485651LK).
For general recovery questions patients raise with you — driving, return to work, slings, wound care — the Surgery & Recovery guides give the practice's standing advice, and the exercise guides cover technique for the common early exercises.
A direct line for
treating therapists
GPs will find referral pathways and triage criteria on the referrer page. On-site post-operative shoulder physiotherapy is covered on the physiotherapy team page.
