Background: Assessment of radiology is an integral part of fracture management in orthopaedic surgery.  Mobile multimedia messaging (MMS) can be utilised in the referral process of patients with fractures.  However, the reliability of using MMS in making management decisions in distal radius fractures has not been assessed.

Methods:Radiographs of 20 consecutive cases of distal radius fractures managed with closed reduction and plaster, and 20 cases managed with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) were analysed retrospectively by two blinded orthopaedic surgeons on a computer and anApple iPhone 3GS.  The inter- and intra-rater agreements were assessed.

Results: Inter-rater agreement between the MMS group and the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) group were consistent among the surgeons (K -0.55, 0.80, p<0.001).  However, the management decisions were different in seven cases (8.75%) in the study group.

Conclusion: MMS x-ray pictures can be useful in formulating management plans for patients with distal radius fractures.  With advancing technology smartphones will likely play a larger role in the communication process in delivering orthopaedic care.

Background: New developments in mobile technology have had a profound effect on medical care worldwide.1 In orthopaedic surgery a variety of implants and devices are used, and knowledge about their designs, specific features and surgical techniques is essential. The purpose of this study was to assess whether orthopaedic surgical technique guides are readily available in an electronic format.

Methods: A list of thirty-two orthopaedic device companies currently trading in Australia was generated through a structured internet search and by reviewing a tertiary hospital database. The Apple store was searched for iPhone or iPad surgical technique applications for each company. Company websites were searched for downloadable surgical technique guides. Companies without downloadable surgical technique guides or iPhone applications were contacted via email or telephone to ask whether such products were in development.

Results: Of the thirty-two orthopaedic device companies studied, twenty-two (68.8%) had surgical technique guides available for download on their websites. Four (12.5%) companies had an iPhone or iPad application available in the Apple store.

Conclusion: Although many orthopaedic device companies have downloadable surgical technique guides on their websites, only a few had iPhone or iPad applications for their products. Further development of such products may be beneficial for orthopaedic surgeons.

Background: To compare the use of a personal device such as an Apple iPhone 4 against formal clinical photography in monitoring skin lesions.

Methods: Clinical photography was used to photograph 10 skin lesions and these images were compared to photographs taken by an iPhone. These images were then reviewed by 5 different dermatologists to determine whether a discernible difference in image quality was apparent, and if sufficient detail was present to use the images taken from the iPhone in the clinical setting.

Results: All 5 dermatologists correctly identified all 10 skin lesions taken by clinical photography and those which were taken by the iPhone.  Forty seven of the 50 dermatologist responses indicated both photographs provided enough detail to be clinically useful, although only 9 of the 50 responses indicated the same detail was seen in both images.

Conclusion: Although the quality of images produced using clinical photography is superior to those produced by the iPhone, pictures taken by an iPhone may provide sufficient detail for clinical assessment of skin lesions.