A comparison of telemedicine with face-to-face consultations for trauma management

We compared the accuracy of teleconsultations for minor injuries with face- to-face consultations. Two hundred patients were studied. Colour change, sw elling, decreased movement, tenderness, instability, radiological examinati on, severity of illness, treatment and diagnosis were recorded for both tel emedicine and face-to-face consultations. Colour change showed an accuracy of 97%, presence of swelling or deformity of 98%, diminution of joint movem ent of 95%, presence of tenderness of 97%, weight bearing and gait of 99%, and radiological diagnosis of 98%. The severity of illness or injury was ov erestimated in one case and underestimated in five cases. Treatment was ove r-prescribed in one case and under-prescribed in three cases. The final dia gnosis was correct in all but the two cases in which mistakes were made in the teleradiology. Overall, there was good accuracy using teleconsultations .