Mobile Web-Based Follow-up for Postoperative ACL Reconstruction: A Single-Center Experience

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic surgery
• Digital health
• Patient monitoring

Background:

• The first six weeks post-surgery are critical for patient recovery.
• Unmanaged symptoms during this period can lead to increased healthcare utilization.
• Improving postoperative care is essential for better patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a mobile application for monitoring patients undergoing breast reconstruction and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.
• To determine the utility of mobile health for orthopaedic patient follow-up.
• To assess the potential of mobile platforms to modify postoperative treatment and physician/patient interaction.

Main Methods:

• A case series involving 32 patients undergoing ACL reconstruction.
• Patients used a mobile smartphone application for remote recovery monitoring.
• Data analysis focused on recovery trends during the first six postoperative weeks, supplemented by patient and physician interviews.

Main Results:

• The mobile application provided real-time insights into patient recovery trends.
• It successfully identified a patient requiring reassessment for a potential infection.
• A significant majority of patients could have potentially avoided routine follow-ups, and 94% expressed willingness to use similar apps in the future. Patient satisfaction was high (83% excellent/good).

Conclusions:

• The mobile system accurately assesses patient recovery post-orthopaedic surgery.
• It holds potential to transform postoperative follow-up care for orthopaedic patients.
• The application is well-received by both patients and physicians, indicating its clinical utility.