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Telerehabilitation is as effective as outpatient visits in the management of early osteoarthritis knee and mechanical low backache

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European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Teleconsultation services can be used to overcome the barriers imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic in providing basic orthopaedic rehabilitation services. Aim of the study is to compare the effectiveness of rehabilitation provided via outpatient and teleconsultation in patients with mechanical low backache (LBA) and early osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee joint utilizing Patient-Reported Outcome Measures. The satisfaction level of patients receiving teleconsultation will also be assessed.

Methodology

This study was a hospital-based prospective observational study. The study’s participants were divided into two groups (Outpatient and Teleconsultation, respectively), and each group was further divided into two subgroups of 100 participants each (Knee-pain subgroup 1; LBA subgroup 2). SF-12 questionnaire, visual analogue scale (VAS) score for pain, and functional outcome scores (KOOS score for knee pain and the modified Oswestry Disability Index-MODI for LBA) were assessed at initial presentation and 6 months follow-up. Participants’ satisfaction for teleconsultation service was assessed at final follow-up by 5 points Likert scale (5, very satisfied; 1, very dissatisfied).

Results

Mean consultation time was significantly longer in the outpatient group (p < 0.001). No statistically significant difference in the VAS score, KOOS score (58.0 ± 7.6 vs. 57.8 ± 9.2; p = 0.893), and MODI Score (24.7 ± 13.3 vs. 27.4 ± 12.4; p = 0.128) between the corresponding subgroups of the two groups at final follow-up. Eighty-seven percentage of the participants were satisfied (Likert score ≥ 4) with the teleconsultation services.

Conclusion

Teleconsultation is equally effective to that as face-to-face outpatient consultation in the rehabilitation of patients with early OA knee and mechanical LBA.

Level of study

Level 2, Prospective comparative study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bathinda , Punjab, 151001, India

    Lakshmana Das, Pankaj Kumar Sharma, Gaganpreet Singh & Tarun Goyal

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  1. Lakshmana Das
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  4. Tarun Goyal
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Contributions

Conceptualization was performed by [TG, PKS]. Methodology was done by [TG, LD, GS]. Formal analysis and investigation were conducted by [GS, PKS, LD]. Writing—original draft preparation was written by [LD, GS]. Writing—review and editing was done by [TG, LD]. Resources were provided by [TG]. Supervision was conducted by [TG].

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tarun Goyal.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Das, L., Sharma, P.K., Singh, G. et al. Telerehabilitation is as effective as outpatient visits in the management of early osteoarthritis knee and mechanical low backache. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 34, 405–413 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-023-03673-0

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