Affiliations: [a] Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany | [b] Research and Innovation Department, OpenIT, Heraklion, Greece | [c] Computer Science Department, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Christos Koutras, Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147 Essen, Germany. E-mail:christos.koutras@gmail.com
Abstract: BACKGROUND: e-Health is a widespread healthcare practice in the
medical community, supported by technology-based applications aiming to
deliver health services in an efficient manner, improving the quality of
life and providing a wide range of health and socio-economic benefits to
patients.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the use of e-Health and mobile
applications for the follow-up of major joint arthroplasty patients and the
socio-economic impact of e-Health services on arthroplasty patients.
METHODS: Studies published after 2000 in English language,
enrolling patients who underwent total knee or hip replacement, applying
e-Health solutions and highlighting the economic benefits obtained by
patients, doctors and healthcare systems were considered for inclusion in
the present study.
RESULTS: Five studies satisfied our inclusion criteria and were
included in qualitative analysis. In this paper, the use of e-Health for the
follow-up of major joint arthroplasty patients and the positive impact in
terms of cost, time and hospital visits reduction by applying e-Health
solutions on arthroplasty patients are reviewed in detail as reported in the
included studies.
CONCLUSION: The majority of the included studies reported a
positive impact in terms of cost, time and hospital visits reduction.
