Telesurveillance of circular frame pin sites: one year's experience at a specialist unit

Abstract

Circular frame treatment for limb reconstruction involves repeated follow-up visits, and a substantial number of these appointments are for pin site review only. We have encouraged our frame patients to take photographs of their pin sites when they carry out their weekly dressing changes. The photographs are taken with mobile phones or digital cameras by the patients themselves, and the images sent to us by email. We reply within 24 hours, with either reassurance or appropriate instructions as indicated. In the past 12 months, five patients have had their pin sites reviewed remotely using this method, and have expressed a high level of satisfaction. These early results are encouraging.

Clinical Unity and Community Empowerment: The Use of Smartphone Technology to Empower Community Management of Chronic Venous Ulcers through the Support of a Tertiary Unit

“…Chanussot-Deprez showed that photography in rural areas can be used to allow adequate wound management with advice from distant centres while saving on travel costs for patients and the health system [9] . Khan et al used digital photography to follow pin sites from external fixators in 5 patients over a year [10] . In this study patients self-photographed their wound sites and emailed them to the treating physicians and all found this a highly satisfactory way of reducing outpatient visits.…”