ABSTRACT
eHealth is promoted as a means to strengthen health systems and facilitate universal health coverage. Sub-components (e.g. telehealth, telemedicine, mhealth) are seen as mitigators of healthcare provider shortages and poor rural and remote access. Teleradiology (including mobile teleradiology), widespread in developed nations, is uncommon in developing nations. Decision- and policy-makers require evidence to inform their decisions regarding implementation of mobile teleradiology in Nigeria and other subSaharan countries. To gather evidence, Scopus and PubMed were searched using defined search strings (September 2020). Duplicates were removed, and titles and abstracts reviewed using specified selection criteria. Full-text papers of selected resources were retrieved and reviewed against the criteria. Insight from included studies was charted for eight a priori categories of information: needs assessment, implementation, connectivity, evaluation, costing, image display, image capture and concordance. Fifty-seven articles were identified, duplicates removed and titles and abstracts of remaining articles reviewed against study criteria. Twenty-six papers remained. After review of full-texts, ten met the study criteria. These were summarised, and key insights for the eight categories were charted. Few papers have been published on teleradiology in sub-Saharan Africa. Teleradiology, including mobile teleradiology, is feasible in sub-Saharan Africa for routine X-ray support of patients and healthcare providers in rural and remote locations. Former technical issues (image quality, transmission speed, image compression) have been largely obviated through the high-speed, high-resolution digital imaging and network transmission capabilities of contemporary smartphones and mobile networks, where accessible. Comprehensive studies within the region are needed to guide the widespread introduction of mobile teleradiology.
Subject(s)
Telemedicine , Teleradiology , Cell Phone , Technology, RadiologicABSTRACT
Background: Radiographic techniques has availed anatomists the opportunity to study human bony structure in-vivo. Normative data can assist in defining and quantifying abnormalities. This study was carried out to establish normal angular wrist dimensions of adult Nigerians. Methods: A total of 100 standard lateral wrist x-rays were obtained from 50 (26 males [52%] and 24 females [48%]) adult Nigerians. Three (3) angular dimensions; radial tilt, capitolunate angle, and scapholunate angle were measured. Data were analysed using XLSTAT (Addinsoft Version 2015.4.01.21575). Student and paired sample t-test were used to evaluate sex, and side differences respectively. P<0.05 (at 95% confidence level) was taken to be significant. Results: The mean values for the measured angular parameters were as follows; right and left radial tilt (R&L-RT) = 14.06 ± 2.46º, capitolunate angle (CLA)[R=17.48 ± 1.72º, L=17.67 ± 1.67º] and scapholunate angle(SLA) [R=43.70 ± 3.60º, L=45.10 ± 3.44º]. The radial tilt was observed to be identical in the left and right wrists, while the capitolunate and scapholunate angle were observed to be asymmetrical, with the left significantly greater than the right (P<0.01). All right and left wrist parameters were significant inter-predictors (r>0.75; P<0.01), while only the R & L-RT correlated with R-CLA (r>0.302; P<0.033) and L-CLA (r>0.347; P<0.013). Conclusion: It could be concluded that there was no sex difference in angular wrist parameters and asym metry was observed. The variation in the arrangement of wrist bones in both hands could be associated with mechanical impact as a result of use and this must be taken into consideration when evaluating unilateral wrist diseases