Telemedicine: Is It a Tool for Orthopedics?

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Digital Health
• Medical Technology

Background:

• Telemedicine in orthopedics has evolved from simple case discussions to include postoperative follow-up, physical examinations, and direct patient teleconsultations.
• Despite a long history, some orthopedic surgeons still exhibit resistance to adopting telemedicine technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the literature on the benefits of telemedicine in orthopedic clinical practice.
• To discuss the advantages, barriers, and enablers associated with orthopedic telemedicine.

Main Methods:

• A narrative literature review was conducted to explore the applications and impact of telemedicine in orthopedics.
• The review synthesized findings from studies on remote diagnosis, virtual examinations, and patient satisfaction.

Main Results:

• Telemedicine consultations can be safely offered to selected orthopedic patients, including those with fractures and pediatric conditions.
• Remote diagnosis of fractures and standardized virtual orthopedic examinations have been successfully implemented.
• Studies report high patient satisfaction and cost-effectiveness for remote orthopedic care.

Conclusions:

• Telemedicine has expanded safely within orthopedic practice, demonstrating significant potential for global adoption.
• Technological progress and shifts in practice patterns, accelerated by the COVID-19 crisis, are driving the expansion of remote orthopedic care.