title: A retrospective study of the influence of telemedicine in the management of pediatric facial lacerations.
abstract: A study was carried out to determine the influence of telemedicine on management of facial lacerations in children. Proforma was designed, and information was collected retrospectively over a 4-month period. Of the 2524 telemedicine referrals, 27% (693/2524) were pediatric referrals. One hundred forty-five of these were children with facial lacerations, of which only 98 were admitted for possible surgical management. During the same period, a further 45 children were admitted to the pediatric ward through verbal referral. The average age of the children admitted was 4.85 years and male-to-female ratio was 2:1. Lacerations to the lips (42%) were the most common site of injury, and the majority sustained the injury as a result of a mechanical fall (42%). Among the telemedicine group, 86% had surgery, whereas in the nontelemedicine group it was 82%. On average, 2 to 3 photographs accompanied the referrals, and none of the patients who were treated conservatively by the referring centers following telemedicine referral and discussion with Queen Victoria Hospital required a re-referral. The results from this study confirm that clinical findings together with images from telemedicine provide adequate information to make clinical decisions in children with facial lacerations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University College Hospital, London, United Kingdom. safarook@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Shahme Ahamed
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Farook
authors.forename: Anika Kim Jap
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Zaid
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sadiq
authors.forename: Radhika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dua
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Newman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D022125:Lacerations / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017216:Telemedicine; D006113:United Kingdom