Virtual fracture clinic reduces patient X-ray volume for common wrist and ankle fractures.

Autor: O'Driscoll CS; Department of Orthopaedics, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin 24, Ireland. coodrisc@tcd.ie., Hughes AJ; Department of Orthopaedics, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin 24, Ireland., McCabe FJ; Department of Orthopaedics, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin 24, Ireland., Hughes E; Department of Orthopaedics, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin 24, Ireland., Quinlan JF; Department of Orthopaedics, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin 24, Ireland., O'Daly BJ; Department of Orthopaedics, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin 24, Ireland.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Irish journal of medical science [Ir J Med Sci] 2022 Oct; Vol. 191 (5), pp. 2117-2121. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Oct 16.
DOI: 10.1007/s11845-021-02812-y
Abstrakt: Background: Virtual fracture clinics (VFC) have been widely adopted worldwide as part of the changes in healthcare delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have been shown to be a safe and effective method of delivering trauma care for injuries which do not require immediate intervention or specialist management, whilst maintaining high levels of patient satisfaction.
Aims: Our aim was to evaluate whether VFCs reduce the volume of X-rays performed for common fractures of the wrist and ankle.
Methods: A retrospective cohort review was performed. The pre-VFC group consisted of 168 wrist and 108 ankle referrals from March to September 2019. The VFC group included 75 wrist and 68 ankle referrals, during the period March to September 2020. The total number of X-ray images, carried out within a 3-month period for each fracture was summated, with statistical analysis performed following fracture pattern classification.
Findings: A statistically significant decrease in mean X-rays was observed for isolated stable fracture patterns, such as non-displaced distal radius, - 0.976 (p = 0.00025), and Weber A ankle fractures, - 0.907 (p = 0.000013). A reduction was also observed for more complex fracture patterns such as dorsally displaced distal radius, - 0.701 (p = 0.129) and Weber B ankle fractures, - 0.786 (p = 0.235), though not achieving statistical significance.
Conclusions: Virtual fracture clinics can reduce X-ray frequency for common stable wrist and ankle fractures, with resultant benefits for both patients and healthcare systems. These benefits may be sustained in patient care beyond the current COVID-19 pandemic.
(© 2021. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
Externí odkaz: