Telemedicine and orthopedic surgery: A narrative review

Abstract

Purpose of review. The purpose of this paper is to review the current concepts regarding a new form of medicine which, especially in recent years, is enjoying more and more success. Especially how telemedicine can be beneficial in many areas of orthopedic clinical practice. Recent findings. In the past, telemedicine for orthopedics was the prerogative of rural areas, where the distance from the hospital could be as much as 150 miles, to assure patients equal access to the care. In the last few years telemedicine has undergone an important boost so much that it has now routinely entered the approach to the patient. Multiple appropriate telemedicine applications are suggested for orthopedic practice, such as teleconsultation for diagnosis, treatment, and patient follow-up with a pivotal role in virtual rehabilitation. Discussion. The fields of application of telemedicine in orthopedics range from teleconsultation to fracture management, to postoperative follow-up and above all to telerehabilitation. Telerehabilitation is one of the fields of greatest interest in tele-orthopedics due to the possibility of providing remote rehabilitation services using digital technology, regardless their location and reducing the geographical and access barriers to the care. Technology is evolving more and more and tele-orthopedics is also benefiting from it, thanks above all to the advent of AI which improve the accuracy of or reduce the time associated with critical diagnostic steps. Conclusions. This trend will be confirmed, and the adoption of telemedicine practices will continue to expand because due to the necessary digital evolution that is characterizing the medical practice.