Initial plastic surgery experience with the first telemedicine links for the British Forces

In January 1998, the first telemedicine link for the British Defence Medical Services was established between the British military hospital in Sipovo, Bosnia and the Royal Hospital Haslar, the main triservice hospital in the UK. Further links were established later in the year. These simple links use a high-resolution digital camera, the Olympus C1400L and the C1400XL, to capture still images. These are then transmitted without loss of definition as electronic mail attachments to obtain specialist opinions in plastic surgery as well as in radiology, dermatology, orthopaedics, urology, ophthalmology, general medicine, maxillofacial surgery and pathology. Its use is illustrated by representative case reports from the first 11 referrals from Sipovo and elsewhere to the Plastic Surgery Department at Haslar. This system is suitable for use within both a military and a civilian context, anywhere in the world. It can readily be adapted for use by general practitioners and hospital doctors to facilitate referrals to plastic surgery departments.