Orthopedic Surgery and Telemedicine in Times of COVID-19 and Beyond: a Review

AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review article presents the current knowledge on the use of telemedicine and summarizes the literature highlighting the advantages and limitations of this technology in the field of orthopedic surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.Recent FindingsOrthopedic surgery is the surgical specialty that has seen the highest proportion of its procedures cancelled due to the pandemic. In this context and onward, telemedicine seems to be a reasonable option for the orthopedic surgeon. Multiple studies have described its safety and a similar patient satisfaction compared to in-person consultations. It has a potential to increase productivity and decrease wait times by providing easier access to the clinician and by decreasing travel-associated limitations and costs. Authors have described the possibility to conduct a reliable virtual assessment of the patient range of motion. Some of the limitations to the use of this technology are technological literacy and access to virtual consultation platforms, the inability to conduct a complete physical examination, potential reduction in identification of intimate and child abuse victims, and limited knowledge about the legal implications of this technology.SummaryTelemedicine in orthopedic surgery has a potential to increase productivity, reduce costs, and increase the access to healthcare. Identified limitations include risk of misdiagnosis, required technologic literacy, unknown legal implications, and f...
Source: Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine - Category: Orthopaedics Source Type: research