Connected orthopedics and trauma surgery: New perspectives

Area of Science:

• Digital Health and Medical Informatics
• Orthopedic Surgery Technology

Background:

• The increasing ubiquity of digital information impacts surgical practice, necessitating an evaluation of connected tools.
• Mobile health (mHealth) applications are becoming integral to daily surgical workflows, requiring definition of their scope and limitations.
• Evolving medical data regulations emphasize the need for secure and private digital health solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the role and limitations of digital information and mHealth in modern orthopedic surgery.
• To understand how connected applications can optimize surgical decision-making, patient care, and medical education.

Main Methods:

• Review of current digital information integration in surgical practice, focusing on mobile applications.
• Analysis of the impact of mHealth on diagnosis, treatment planning, and clinical follow-up.
• Exploration of machine learning algorithms and their potential in optimizing patient care within connected surgical environments.

Main Results:

• Connected applications are widely adopted, assisting surgeons in diagnosis and treatment decisions.
• mHealth facilitates easier clinical follow-up through reliable and frequent data transmission.
• Digital tools provide enhanced access to information and continuous medical education for surgeons.

Conclusions:

• Smartphones, tablets, and digital applications play a central role in contemporary orthopedic surgery.
• Connected tools empower surgeons with information, resources, and data storage, while improving patient-physician communication and patient education.