Table 1 Clinical studies from the field of orthopaedics reporting on telemedicine from 2020 and 2021
Author, year | Journal | LoE | Design | Country | Purpose of the study | Main findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
An et al., 2021 [18] | Int J Environ Res Public Health | II | RCT | Korea | Analyses the effects of preoperative telerehabilitation muscle strength, range of motion, and functional outcomes (WOMAC-score, Timed Up and Go Test) in patients intended for total knee arthroplasty. After a preoperative 3Â week intensive exercise program, significantly better results were obtained in the intervention group 4Â weeks postoperatively when compared to controls who did not receive such preoperative training | Successful preoperative telerehabilitation program before total knee arthroplasty |
Pabinger et al., 2021 [24] | Int J Med Inform | II | RCT | Austria | Evaluates the usefulness of a mobile healthcare communication app with respect to diagnosis and treatment in outpatient care of general surgery. The parameters used for the app were uploaded by doctors seeing the patient on-site. With this setup the diagnosis and treatment recommended by the telemedicine doctor showed high congruency with those formulated by the on-site doctor | Successful tele-diagnosis and -treatment in outpatient care of general surgery |
Mehta et al., 2020 [31] | JAMA Netw Open | I | RCT | USA | Looks into the effects of activity monitoring and bidirectional text messaging on the rate of discharge to home and clinical outcomes in patients obtaining knee or hip replacement. Only rehospitalisation rate reduced in the intervention group, while discharge status and average daily step count were comparable among both groups | Activity monitoring and bidirectional text messaging |
Malliaras et al., 2020 [26] | JMIR Mhealth Uhealth | III | RCT | Australia | Assesses the feasibility of a 12-week internet-delivered intervention for rotator cuff-related shoulder pain. The authors compared the treatment regimes of advice only, internet-delivered evidence-based exercise and education, and this internet-delivered care with group-based telerehabilitation including a weekly group teleconference session | Successful adherence of an internet-delivered intervention for rotator cuff-related shoulder pain |
Seward et al., 2020 [19] | J Orthop Surg Res | II | RCT | USA | Describes a study protocol of an inaugurated study aiming to evaluate weight loss before total joint arthroplasty using a remote dietician and mobile app | Study protocol |
Bell et al., 2020 [27] | Sensors | II | RCT | USA | Evaluates the feasibility of a wearable remote rehabilitation monitoring platform (interACTION) for the remote management of rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty | Successful feasibility study for a tele-rehabilitation platform after total knee arthroplasty |
Claassen et al., 2020 [20] | BMC Med Inform Decis Mak | I | RCT | Netherlands | Looks into the effects on patients’ satisfaction of a stand-alone mobile and web-based educational intervention compared to usual preparation of a first orthopaedic consultation in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip. While the digital applications did not lead to a higher patient satisfaction with the consultation, they influenced knowledge on osteoarthritis | Higher patient knowledge on osteoarthritis after a web-based educational intervention |
Higgins et al., 2020 [28] | Arthroscopy | II | RCT | Canada | Evaluates if a mobile app can reduce the need for in-person visits after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. In the mobile app group patients frequented less often the physician while achieving the same satisfaction, complication rates and clinical outcomes | Successful telemedicine application after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction |
Kane et al., 2020 [30] | J Shoulder Elbow Surg | II | RCT | USA | Investigates safety, efficacy and socioeconomic benefits of telehealth as a platform for postoperative follow-up after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in comparison to a control group receiving regular postoperative care. While pain scores and satisfaction were similar in both groups, patients in the telehealth group expressed a stronger preference for telehealth | Postoperative telehealth after rotator cuff repair leading to high patient acceptance |
Huang et al., 2020 [29] | Sensors | III | controlled clinical trial | Taiwan | Proposes a sensor-based system to effectively remotely monitor rehabilitation progress after total knee arthroplasty | Testing of a remote monitor system for rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty |
Pronk et al., 2020 [32] | JMIR Mhealth Uhealth | II | RCT | Netherlands | Analyses the effects of the PainCoach app on postoperative pain control and opiate use in patients who received total knee arthroplasty. With comparable pain scores as in a control group, the opiate consumption was reduced in the intervention group | Successful application of an app to reduce postoperative opioid consumption |
Cottrell et al., 2021 [25] | J Telemed Telecare | III | prospective non-randomised clinical trial | Australia | Compares telerehabilitation with in-person care for patients with chronic musculoskeletal spinal conditions. The unambiguous results of the study warrant further investigation | Telerehabilitation for chronic musculoskeletal spinal conditions. No unambiguous results |
Scherer et al., 2021 [22] | Injury | IV | Survey | Switzerland, Germany | Assesses questionnaire-based the willingness of orthopaedic patients to perform video consultations. Older patients are less eager to use remote consultation. The most frequently stated disadvantage was the lack of physical examination | Younger patients are more prone to use video consultations |
Omari et al., 2021 [21] | Telemed J E Health | IV | Survey | USA | Survey with high satisfaction rates with telemedicine. Patients are more confident in follow-up visits and when also using the video channel | Survey reporting high satisfaction rates with telemedicine |
Versluijs et al., 2021 [23] | Telemed J E Health | II | RCT | USA | Randomised controlled trial investigating the effect of previsit phone calls from the surgeon. There is no effect regarding decision conflict or perceived empathy. However, the surgeons felt that 91% of the in-person visit can be replaced by phone calls | Previsit phone-calls did not reduce decision conflict |