Telerehabilitation model in operated individuals with upper limb and chest trauma due to road traffic accidents

  • Received 10.08.2023

  • Revised 20.10.2023

  • Accepted 28.11.2023



  • 1,365 Views

  • Retrieved from Vol. 5, No. 4, 2023

  • Pages 8-16

Implementing telerehabilitation methods for individuals injured in road traffic accidents with upper limb and chest trauma is critically essential for improving patients' functional recovery, ensuring effective interaction between the patient and the rehabilitation specialist, and reducing overall time and costs associated with rehabilitation. The purpose of the study is to assess the effectiveness of applying telemedicine monitoring tools and the developed rehabilitation model in the functional recovery of operated patients with upper limb and chest trauma. The study included patients who underwent surgery due to upper limb and chest trauma resulting from road traffic accidents. Patients were divided into two groups: retrospective (186 patients) underwent standard rehabilitation, while the main group (62 patients) was involved in the developed telerehabilitation model programme. Functional outcomes were analysed using the qDASH scale, including the average time spent by patients on rehabilitation per day, the number of patient visits to the medical facility within 3 weeks, and the total time spent by the rehabilitation specialist per patient over 3 weeks. After rehabilitation, over 80% of patients in both groups demonstrated positive and satisfactory results, with a slight advantage of excellent results in the main group (12.90% versus 9.14%). Patients in the main group spent more time on their rehabilitation (41+3 minutes per day) and had access to progress monitoring functions and communication with the doctor, which increased their motivation and involvement. Telerehabilitation remarkably reduced the number of required doctor visits (5±2 versus 11±3 visits) and the time spent by the rehabilitation specialist on each patient over 3 weeks (132±12 minutes versus 243±17 minutes). The average time per day spent by the injured individuals on rehabilitation exercises in the main group was 41±3 minutes, while in the retrospective group, it was 31±7 minutes. The telerehabilitation model is an equivalent alternative and complement to standard rehabilitation methods. Its advantages include increased motivation for performing rehabilitation exercises and the ability to conduct training in a distance-controlled environment

polytrauma surgery; telemedicine; rank analysis; retrospective study

https://doi.org/10.61751/bmbr/4.2023.08

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