Saini R, Jeyaraman M, Jeyaraman N, Jain VK, Ramasubramanian S, Iyengar KP. Advancing orthopaedic trauma care through WhatsApp: An analysis of clinical and non-clinical applications, challenges, and future directions. World J Orthop 2024; 15(6): 529-538 [PMID: 38947267 DOI: 10.5312/wjo.v15.i6.529]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Madhan Jeyaraman, MS, PhD, Assistant Professor, Research Associate, Department of Orthopaedics, ACS Medical College and Hospital, Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, Chennai 600077, Tamil Nadu, India. madhanjeyaraman@gmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Orthopedics
Article-Type of This Article
Minireviews
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Orthop. Jun 18, 2024; 15(6): 529-538 Published online Jun 18, 2024. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v15.i6.529
Advancing orthopaedic trauma care through WhatsApp: An analysis of clinical and non-clinical applications, challenges, and future directions
Ravi Saini, Madhan Jeyaraman, Naveen Jeyaraman, Vijay Kumar Jain, Swaminathan Ramasubramanian, Karthikeyan P Iyengar
Ravi Saini, Vijay Kumar Jain, Department of Orthopaedics, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi 110001, India
Madhan Jeyaraman, Naveen Jeyaraman, Department of Orthopaedics, ACS Medical College and Hospital, Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, Chennai 600077, Tamil Nadu, India
Swaminathan Ramasubramanian, Department of Orthopaedics, Government Medical College, Omandurar Government Estate, Chennai 600002, Tamil Nadu, India
Karthikeyan P Iyengar, Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals, Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching NHS Trust, Southport PR8 6PN, United Kingdom
Co-corresponding authors: Madhan Jeyaraman and Naveen Jeyaraman.
Author contributions: Saini R and Jain VK conceptualized the study; Jeyaraman M, Jeyaraman N, and Ramasubramian S contributed to writing, reviewing, and editing the manuscript; Iyengar KP supervised the study; and all authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version. Jeyaraman M and Jeyaraman N have played important and indispensable roles in the experimental design, data interpretation and manuscript preparation as the co-corresponding authors.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/.
Corresponding author: Madhan Jeyaraman, MS, PhD, Assistant Professor, Research Associate, Department of Orthopaedics, ACS Medical College and Hospital, Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, Chennai 600077, Tamil Nadu, India. madhanjeyaraman@gmail.com
Received: March 19, 2024 Revised: April 23, 2024 Accepted: May 13, 2024 Published online: June 18, 2024 Processing time: 85 Days and 19 Hours
Abstract
The integration of WhatsApp, a widely-used instant messaging application (IMA), into the realm of orthopaedics and trauma surgery has emerged as a significant development in recent years. This paper explores the multifaceted role of WhatsApp in orthopaedics, focusing on its clinical and non-clinical applications, advantages, disadvantages, and future prospects. The study synthesizes findings from various research papers, emphasizing the growing reliance on mobile technology in healthcare. WhatsApp’s role in orthopaedics is notable for its ease of use, real-time communication, and accessibility. Clinically, it facilitates triage, teleconsultation, diagnosis, treatment, patient advice, and post-operative monitoring. Non-clinically, it supports telemedicine, teleradiology, virtual fracture clinics, research, and education in orthopaedic surgery. The application has proven beneficial in enhancing communication among healthcare teams, providing quick responses, and motivating junior physicians. Its use in educational settings has been shown to improve learner’s understanding and patient care. However, the use of WhatsApp in orthopaedics is not without challenges. Risks include the potential spread of misleading information, privacy concerns, and issues with image quality affecting diagnosis and treatment decisions. The paper acknowledges the importance of maintaining professional boundaries and the need for oversight measures to ensure content accuracy. Looking forward, the potential of WhatsApp and similar IMAs in orthopaedics lies in their ability to streamline data collection and retrieval, improve doctor-patient communication, and address challenges like bureaucratic red tape and limited resources. The paper suggests that future orthopaedic practice, particularly in emergency departments, will increasingly rely on such technologies for efficient patient management. This shift, however, must be approached with an understanding of the ethical, legal, and practical implications of integrating social media and mobile technology in healthcare.
Core Tip: WhatsApp enhances healthcare communication, patient care, and medical education in orthopaedic trauma, offering speed and convenience. Despite its benefits, including efficiency and timely decision-making, challenges persist regarding data privacy, professional boundaries, and potential information mismanagement. We recommend developing standardized guidelines for secure and ethical app use in healthcare. Future research should focus on integrating WhatsApp more effectively into medical practices, ensuring it enhances patient care without compromising safety or professionalism, thus maximizing its potential in healthcare while addressing its inherent limitations.
