Digital operation notes: a useful addition to the written record

The use of photographic images to supplement written records has been used in clinical medical practice for many years. The additional information that a photograph provides is useful to record pathological findings, anatomic changes, surgical relationships, and outcomes. Obtaining relevant, good-quality digital images is extremely easy with the new generation of digital camera systems. The images obtained are very versatile and can be either printed as hard copies or stored in image databases. With the advent of electronic patient records, written operation notes can be stored alongside images to give a more complete account of a patient's treatment. Networked computer systems allow access to these records from a variety of different locations, thereby improving the use of photographs by different specialties. The authors encourage intraoperative photography to enhance the written operation note and have found it helpful to fellow surgical colleagues, pathologists, and physiotherapists in overall patient care.