It's a fair question, and one worth asking before you book. If you've hurt your knee on the weekend, rolled an ankle at the gym, or tweaked a shoulder at work, it's reasonable to wonder whether a video appointment can really do the job, or whether an injury really needs hands on the limb.
The short answer is that a structured online orthopaedic consultation is clinically appropriate for the great majority of upper- and lower-limb injuries. There are, however, clearly defined situations where in-person assessment should come first. This article sets out where a video consultation fits, and where it does not.
When a Video Consultation Is the Right Format
A video consultation is clinically appropriate for the majority of orthopaedic injuries involving the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons of the upper and lower limbs. There are, however, clear situations where in-person assessment should come first.
If none of the red-flag situations below apply, a video consultation is a clinically appropriate way to access specialist orthopaedic advice online. The consultation is not a chatbot, a symptom checker, or a generic digital health service. It is a structured clinical encounter delivered by a qualified practitioner with orthopaedic expertise.
A common example: a patient who sustained a knee or shoulder injury during a weekend game, has been reviewed by their club physiotherapist, and has no red-flag symptoms, is well-suited to an AVA Orthopaedics video consultation.
A video consultation is clinically appropriate for the majority of upper- and lower-limb orthopaedic injuries — with clear exceptions for red-flag situations that need in-person assessment first.
When You Should Be Seen In Person First
Please attend your nearest Emergency Department or GP before booking with AVA Orthopaedics if any of the following apply:
- An open bleeding wound near the injury
- A limb that looks visibly bent or out of place
- A high-impact accident, such as a high-speed crash or a fall from a height greater than two metres, where you have not yet been assessed in person
- A head injury or loss of consciousness that has not yet been assessed
- A concurrent head, chest, abdominal, or spinal injury that has not yet been assessed
- Back or neck pain (AVA Orthopaedics focuses on injuries of the upper and lower limbs)
These situations call for hands-on examination, immediate imaging, or other interventions that cannot be safely delivered through a screen. Once in-person assessment is complete and you have a referral or imaging in hand, an AVA Orthopaedics video consultation may still be a useful next step — particularly if you would like clearer specialist interpretation or a structured recovery plan.
What Makes a Video Consultation Clinically Useful
An AVA Orthopaedics consultation is a structured clinical encounter, not a tick-box screening tool. It is delivered by a clinician with orthopaedic experience, with case review and oversight by an orthopaedic surgeon, or directly with an orthopaedic surgeon.
Much of orthopaedic decision-making is based on:
- Mechanism of injury
- Symptom progression
- Imaging interpretation
- Functional assessment
- Movement observation
These can be assessed effectively through video, and combined with imaging review and a detailed history they form the basis of a clear clinical picture. The consultation is longer and more detailed than a standard telehealth visit, and it is structured to deliver a written summary and a personalised management plan in one visit — without bouncing you on to another appointment.
Still Not Sure if a Video Consultation Suits Your Injury?
If you are unsure whether your injury is suitable for an online consultation, the AVA Orthopaedics team can help you decide before you book. You can contact us by phone, email, or online chat to talk through your situation, or read more about how an AVA video consultation differs from a standard telehealth appointment.
For most upper- and lower-limb injuries — sporting injuries, work injuries, everyday accidents — a structured online orthopaedic consultation is a safe, clinically appropriate, and convenient way to get specialist direction. For the situations listed above, in-person care comes first, and we'll help you find the right next step.
Specialist Advice. Early Direction.