Teleconsultation by using the mobile camera phone for remote management of the extremity wound: a pilot study.
To assess the feasibility of remote management of extremity wound by using a mobile camera phone to transfer clinical images and online communication, teleconsultations were carried out on 60 patients between January and August 2003 for 82 extremity wounds presented to the emergency room between residents and consultant plastic surgeons. A questionnaire about wound descriptors (gangrene, necrosis, erythema, and cellulitis/infection), as well as clinical opinions regarding treatment with antibiotics or debridement, was filled out. In this study, 3 surgeons were able to make 80%, 76%, 66%, and 74% agreement, respectively, in the remote diagnosis regarding presence of gangrene, necrosis, erythema, and cellulitis/infection. Recognition of gangrene had the highest agreement percent (80%), sensitivity (85%), and specificity (93%). There were 68% to 90% of image sets that could be made with equivalent diagnoses of wound descriptors and 83% of wounds managed as per the remote treatment recommendation regarding whether to use antibiotics or to perform debridement. The preliminary results showed that the camera phone is valuable and bears potential for remote management of the extremity wound.
Tsai
Hui-Hong
HH
Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Pong
Ya-Ping
YP
Liang
Chi-Cheng
CC
Lin
Pao-Yuan
PY
Hsieh
Ching-Hua
CH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D040421:Cell Phone; D002648:Child; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005121:Extremities; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010781:Photography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*