The utility of multimedia in the diagnosis and management of acute and subacute problems in hand surgery.

A typical consultation is based on a phone conversation between the consulting service and the surgeon. If the description given to the surgeon misrepresents the severity of the condition, unnecessary transfer of the patient could follow. In an attempt to reduce the occurrence of unnecessary transfers, we started supplementing our consultation with video captured with a cell phone camera demonstrating specific points in clinical examination of the hand. These videos were sent to the surgeon to clarify the clinical picture. We found this method useful in some cases in ruling out the need for urgent transfer.