The Impact of Telemedicine on Orthopaedic Trauma Patients With Closed Fractures

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
The purpose of this study is to determine whether telemedicine video calls for follow-up visits between patients and their orthopaedic trauma surgeons has an impact on patient satisfaction, quality of life, and treatment adherence. This study will also assess the feasibility of telemedicine as a medium for follow-up visits.

Detailed Description
-----------------
Patients who are over the age of 18 years with closed fractures treated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center by the Orthopaedic Trauma Department will be recruited into the study into one of two arms: a telemedicine arm in which the patient will have some of his or her visits conducted through video calls, and a control arm in which all of the visits for the patient will be in-person at the Vanderbilt University Orthopaedic Trauma Clinic. Comparisons between the two groups will be made through surveys administered to the patients half-way through the study and at the conclusion of the study, and comparisons will be made using standard statistical tests. The feasibility of telemedicine as a medium for follow-up visits in lieu of in-person visits will be assessed in this study.

Official Title
-----------------
The Impact of Telemedicine on Orthopaedic Trauma Patients With Closed Fractures

Conditions
-----------------
Telemedicine, Fracture

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Other: Telemedicine


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: adults over 18 years old with closed fracture and having access to telemedicine technology (i.e. high speed Internet) at home Exclusion Criteria: patients as part of vulnerable populations

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
No

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Control<br>Control patients with all follow-up visits in person at the Vanderbilt Orthopaedic Trauma clinic (2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post-operative). | |
| Experimental: Telemedicine<br>Experimental cohort with two follow-up visits (6 weeks and 6 months) occurring via telemedicine video calls and two follow-up visits (2 weeks and 3 months) occurring in person. | Other: Telemedicine<br>* Patients in the telemedicine cohort will have two follow-up visits (at 6 weeks and 6 months) through video calls.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Patient Satisfaction and Clinical Outcomes at Conclusion | Surveys will be administered to all patients in both arms of the study at the conclusion of the study to assess patient satisfaction with their treatment arms. Furthermore, all clinical outcomes for patients with be addressed at this point to note fracture healing status, any development of complications, and any redefinition of goals of care. | 6 month | 

 Terms related to the study
=================
Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
-----------------
Telemedicine, Fracture, Orthopaedics