Review: How effective is initial virtual acute orthopedic care?

Editor's Note

In-person approaches to assess and manage patients who have been recently diagnosed with bone fractures face challenges with meeting patient demand. This can delay accurate and timely clinical decisions for further care. Research suggests that virtual fracture clinics can be an effective alternative to in-person fracture clinics. The goal is to better manage clinical time and resources, improve accessibility, and decrease patient wait times, according to research published November 10 in the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research.

Investigators explored the efficacy of a virtual fracture clinic concept through a systematic review of studies from 2011 through April 2025. Data for 63,367 patients treated in a virtual fracture clinic was investigated and demonstrated 83.6% mean compliance rate with British Orthopaedic Association Standards for Trauma 72-hour guidelines, as compared to a 5.7% compliance rate in in-person fracture clinics. The investigators also noted minimal diagnostic errors, a low mean reattendance rate after discharge in the virtual care setting, as well as a high mean satisfaction rate of 85.4% from patients receiving the virtual care, per the report. They suggested that these findings illustrate how a virtual approach could be a highly effective consideration for initial acute traumatic orthopedic care.