Utilization of telemedicine for diagnosis and follow-up within foot and ankle orthopaedic surgery: A narrative review of the literature

Issue title: Special Section: Advancements in Telehealth

Guest editors: Gholamreza Hassanzadeh, Albert T. Anastasio, Shamsul Bahri Mohd Tamrin and Ardalan Shariat

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Talaski, Grayson M.^{a; *} | Baumann, Anthony N.^b | Kermanshahi, Nazanin^c | Walley, Kempland C.^d | Anastasio, Albert T.^e | de Cesar Netto, Cesar^e

Affiliations: [a] College of Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA | [b] College of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA | [c] College of Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA | [d] Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Michigan/Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA | [e] Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Grayson M. Talaski, 200 Hawkins Drive, University of Iowa - Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, 52240, USA. (309) 826-2480; E-mail: gtalaski@uiowa.edu.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Telemedicine has seen increasing adoption in healthcare over the past two decades, with proven clinical efficacy in several medical specialties. Orthopedics surgery has shown potential benefits from telemedicine implementation. OBJECTIVE:This review aims to evaluate the impact of telemedicine on clinical outcomes and patient and physician preferences in foot and ankle orthopedics, providing insight into the potential role of telemedicine within this subspecialty. METHODS:Multiple databases were searched for relevant articles on telemedicine in foot and ankle orthopedics. Inclusion criteria encompassed articles on telemedicine use and foot and ankle orthopedic care. Data included patient demographics, reasons for visits, duration of telemedicine, and outcomes. Analysis involved descriptive statistics, and a narrative approach to describe outcomes. RESULTS:Out of 218 articles, 12 met the inclusion criteria, comprising a total of 1,535 patients. Telemedicine visits were used for follow-up care, opinion consultations, monitoring, postoperative care, and treatment of various orthopedic conditions. Clinical outcomes demonstrated equivalence to in-person care. Patients expressed satisfaction with telemedicine but preferred in-person visits for future appointments. Physicians held neutral attitudes towards telemedicine, with concerns about the lack of physical examination. CONCLUSION:This review highlights the benefits of telemedicine in foot and ankle orthopedics. Telemedicine provides an alternative to in-person visits, improving patient access to care and offering cost and time savings. However, patient and physician preferences for in-person visits suggest a need to address concerns related to physical examination limitations. Telemedicine can supplement traditional care, but further research is required to explore its applicability in new patient consultations and optimize physician engagement.

Keywords: Telemedicine, foot and ankle orthopaedic surgery, systematic review, virtual orthopaedic visit

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230529

Journal: Work, vol. 79, no. 3, pp. 1589-1600, 2024