Tele-orthopaedics: A systematic mapping study

Abstract

Introduction The use of telemedicine in orthopaedics can provide high-quality orthopaedic services to patients in remote areas. Tele-orthopaedics is widely acknowledged for decreasing travel, time and cost, increasing accessibility and quality of care. In the absence of a comprehensive review on tele-orthopaedics applications and services, here, we systematically identify and classify the tele-orthopaedic applications and services and provide an overview of the trends in the field. Methods In this study, a systematic mapping was conducted to answer six research questions, we searched the databases Scopus, PubMed, IEEE Digital Library and Web of Science up to 2019. Consequently, 77 papers were screened and selected on the basis of specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results We found that mobile-based teleconsultation was mostly asynchronous, while non-mobile teleconsultation was synchronous. The results showed that the physician–patient relationship was more common than other interactions, such as physician–physician and physician–robot interactions. In addition, more than half of the services provided by tele-orthopaedics have been used for orthopaedic diseases/traumas in which joint replacement and fracture reduction have been the most important orthopaedic procedures. It has been noted that more attention has been paid to tele-orthopaedics in developed countries such as the USA, Australia, Canada and Finland. Discussion Telemonitoring (teleconsultation and telemetry) and telesurgery (telerobotics and telementoring) were found to be the two major forms of tele-orthopaedics. Mobile phones were used asynchronously in most of the teleconsultations. The development of different applications may result in the use of multiple smartphones applications in real-time teleconsultation. The use of smartphones is expected to increase in the near future.

Feasibility of telemedicine in maintaining follow-up of orthopaedic patients and their satisfaction: A preliminary study

“…Previously, several studies outside India have found telemedicine to be an effective method of administering healthcare services for orthopedic patients. 12 , 13 , 14 It reduces the inconvenience of long travel distance, costs, and added discomfort to the patient. In the current COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine can help in reducing the physical load on already overburdened orthopedic OPDs and reduce the risk of disease transmission to the patient as well as the doctor.…”

Teleorthopedic: A Promising Option During and After the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

“…In the future, people might be able to track their vital signs or other biomarkers through the use of digital health programs and wearable sensor technologies that are connected to applications on the device (2). The delivery of orthopedic services at a distance is safe and effective with minimum pitfalls and undesirable events which will ultimately improve the effectiveness of rehabilitation after orthopedic surgery (5)(6)(7). This new type of orthopedic delivery bridges the problem of distance between patients, doctors, and physiotherapists, and eventually minimizes the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission by avoiding human contact.…”

“…Currently, audiovisual-assisted meetings have been incorporated into orthopedic practice given the evidence that they are as effective or at least not inferior to those obtained with conventional face-to-face visits (5). This new form of medical services facilitates the exchange of information between different parties, including specialists, general practitioners, physiotherapists, and patients (6). Virtual consultations and rehabilitation in orthopedic services have been proven to be cost-effective from the perspective of the community and medical providers and reported to increase patient satisfaction, reduce travel and save time for the patients, and minimize costs.…”

“…Medical practitioners from various specialties can communicate clearly via audiovisual platforms, and they can talk with the physiotherapists who manage their respective patients. Telemedicine will undoubtedly help medical providers in establishing a diagnosis, providing education, planning treatment, developing prevention, and completing a comprehensive follow-up or evaluation of patients' clinical outcomes (6).…”

“…Guidelines and recommendations for reinstalling orthopedic activity had been developed, including classification of procedures based on the emergency and urgency levels, stratification of the patient's risk of infection for the eligibility of surgery, recommendations for PPE use in the operating area, and strategy for resuming elective orthopedic surgery in four phases (1). Teleconsultation and telemonitoring are currently two of the most commonly used virtual orthopedic services (6). At present, machines operated by surgeons or robotic surgeons have been introduced and telesurgery is likely to be more popular and advanced in the future considering continuous medical and technological innovation.…”