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Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery
Published in: Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery 10/2021

01-10-2021 | SARS-CoV-2 | Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine

A systematic review about telemedicine in orthopedics

Authors: Wolf Petersen, Katrin Karpinski, Luisa Backhaus, Sebastian Bierke, Martin Häner

Published in: Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery | Issue 10/2021

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Abstract

Purpose

Until now, the use of telemedical applications in orthopedics was limited to sparsely populated countries. However, due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, interest in orthopedics in these procedures has increased significantly. The aim of this systematic review was to find out to what extent there is scientific evidence for the use of telemedicine in the orthopedic field.

Methods

A systematic literature search was carried out in various databases on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on telemedical applications in orthopedics.

Results

Altogether, 14 articles were identified that reported about a total of eight RCTs of telemedical applications in orthopedics. Two RCTs were about a patient-to-doctor video consultation and six RCTs were about telerehabilitation after knee and hip arthroplasty (4 × knee arthroplasty, one hip and knee arthroplasty, one hip arthroplasty). For the majority of outcome parameters evaluated, there were no significant differences between the study groups. The cost effectiveness of videoconsultations depended on the workload (number of patient consultations) as well as the effectiveness of telerehabilitation on the distance of the patient's home to the health care center (30 km round-trip).

Conclusion

There is sufficient evidence to recommend the use of telemedical methods in orthopedics. However, more research is necessary to further expand the possibilities of telemedical methods with regard to physical examination.
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Metadata
Title
A systematic review about telemedicine in orthopedics
Authors
Wolf Petersen
Katrin Karpinski
Luisa Backhaus
Sebastian Bierke
Martin Häner
Publication date
01-10-2021
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery / Issue 10/2021
Print ISSN: 0936-8051
Electronic ISSN: 1434-3916
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-021-03788-1

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