A photograph-based virtual pathway for patients with Dupuytren's disease.

Authors

Lauren A Ross, Paul Hc Stirling, Jane E McEachan, Simon J Harrison

Published in

The Journal of hand surgery, European volume. Pages 17531934261481573. Sep 18, 2026. Epub Sep 18, 2026.

Abstract

This study examined patient engagement and satisfaction after treatment with a virtual pathway for Dupuytren's disease.
All adult patients referred to the Hand Unit with suspected Dupuytren's disease between October 2022 and December 2023 were included. Patients received postal information packs and were asked to submit a functional questionnaire and hand photographs. Non-responders were reminded after 1 month. Submissions were reviewed in a virtual hand clinic, leading to surgery, in-person review or discharge with advice. Patient satisfaction was assessed 1 year after referral via a postal questionnaire.
Of the 242 referred patients, 176 submitted photographs. Sixty-eight were fast-tracked for surgery, 68 were scheduled for in-person review and 40 were discharged. The pathway reduced non-essential clinic appointments by 46%. The satisfaction response rate was 44%, with an overall satisfaction rate of 86% and a net promoter score of 41.
A virtual assessment model for patients with Dupuytren's disease reduced clinic visits without compromising patient care or satisfaction.
Level IV.

PMID:
42757518
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 18 Sep 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.