Telemedicine in Follow-up after Spine Surgery: Need of the Hour

• Published in: Asian journal of neurosurgery 2024-06, Vol.19 (2), p.263-269
• Main Authors: Totala, Pankaj, Janu, Vikas, Sharma, Raghavendra K., Agrawal, Mohit, Garg, Mayank, Gosal, Jaskaran S., Bhaskar, Suryanarayanan, Jha, Deepak K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Research Article
• ISSN: 1793-5482; 2248-9614
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1787082

Abstract Purpose  There is an acute shortage of neurosurgeons and spine surgeons especially in rural areas of low- and middle-income countries including India. Patients of spine surgery need to travel long distances for follow-up at tertiary care hospitals. This study was done to evaluate role and success rate of telemedicine in follow-up after spine surgery based on patients' diagnosis and demographic features and to identify barriers to successful telemedicine consultations. Materials and Methods  All patients undergoing spine surgeries including craniovertebral junction (CVJ) surgeries from January 2021 to June 2022 were included in the study. Success rate of telemedicine was calculated using a simple formula: Success rate of telemedicine = successful telemedicine consultations / total number of telemedicine consultation × 100. Success rate was evaluated with respect to demographic features and underlying disease-related factors. Results  Eighty-four patients formed the study group in which a total of 181 video teleconsultations were done. Overall success rate of telemedicine was 82.87%. Higher socioeconomic and educational statuses were related to higher success rates of tele-consultations ( p