Wearable Technology in Orthopaedic Surgery: Applications and Future Directions

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Digital Health
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Wearable technologies (wearables) provide continuous, real-time, objective data on physical function, health behaviors, and patient perceptions.
• Sensors like accelerometers and inertial measurement units are key components of wearables, enabling detailed tracking.
• Wearables can monitor mobility metrics (step count, activity duration, joint range of motion) for longitudinal recovery insights.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the role and impact of wearable technologies in orthopaedic surgery.
• To highlight the benefits of wearables for patient education, communication, and functional outcomes.
• To identify emerging technologies and implementation challenges in postoperative rehabilitation.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing data from smartphones, smartwatches, and sensors for continuous monitoring.
• Analyzing mobility metrics to assess recovery trajectories.
• Investigating the integration of smart implants and virtual/augmented reality systems.

Main Results:

• Wearables facilitate personalized patient education and improve patient-surgical team communication.
• Objective data collection leads to better functional outcomes and increased patient satisfaction.
• Emerging technologies like smart implants and VR/AR show promise for rehabilitation.

Conclusions:

• Wearable technologies are valuable tools in orthopaedic surgery for monitoring recovery and enhancing patient engagement.
• Successful implementation requires addressing challenges related to data privacy, accessibility, and clinical workflow integration.
• Future directions include leveraging smart implants and immersive technologies for improved postoperative care.