Surgical plans for spine surgery patients seldom change after an in-person evaluation, according to a study published in The Spine Journal in November.
Five study details:
1. Researchers examined the medical records of 33 patients indicated for spine surgery during a virtual visit and who had an in-person exam before their procedure.
2. The initial surgical plans were compared to the plans after the in-person visit.
3. Researchers examined demographic data, the patient's primary complaint and the type and extent of physical exam performed.
4. Surgical plans did not change for 31 patients (94 percent) after an in-person visit. For the two patients who had plans altered, multilevel fusions were increased by one level.
5. Study findings suggest that virtual visits offer an efficient preoperative assessment of spine patients and may support innovations to optimize access to care.
Click here for more details on the study.