Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, affecting 1 in 3 people over the age of 65. It is the third most rapidly rising cause of disability and the most common reason for decrease in ambulation. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the US Surgeon General has recommended cancelling elective surgeries, causing a large impact on patients with OA. A survey of 360 patients at 6 surgical centers who had to cancel their hip or knee surgery revealed that 30% would have surgery despite COVID-19 risks, 15% had no help at home, and 21% felt isolated or lonely.
COVID-19 has also led to an accelerated uptake of telehealth, and its utilization in the management of OA has shown that it is cost effective, efficacious and accurate, and has a high patient satisfaction rate. However, there are challenges to its usage, including technology literacy, implementation, inability to perform examination, and regulatory barriers, which have led to the need for education.
The final installment in this CME Outfitters Snack series on managing OA focuses on best practices for utilizing telehealth, including encouraging patients to maximize mobility in time of isolation, increasing the utilization of video in telehealth and wearable tech, and the consideration of both operative and non-operative measures for treatment.
