The use of telemedicine in paediatric trauma: A scoping review

Introduction Trauma is a leading cause of paediatric morbidity and mortality, but is often managed at non-paediatric specialist centres, where limited familiarity with paediatric patient management impacts care quality and outcomes. Telemedicine presents a unique solution to these problems, having the potential to improve patient outcomes by influencing the immediate assessment, management and disposition of injured children. This scoping review aims to detail the use of telemedicine in acute paediatric trauma: when and where it is used, what outcomes have been evaluated and any evidence gaps. Methodology We conducted a scoping review to identify primary studies that evaluated the use of telemedicine in paediatric trauma. Five databases were searched for relevant studies published prior to June 2024. Results Nine studies were included. Most papers ( n = 8) reported on the effect of telehealth on patient treatment decisions and outcomes, including a decrease in mortality ( n = 1), impact on patient disposition ( n = 1) and change in patient care due to telehealth ( n = 1). Clinician satisfaction ( n = 3), parent satisfaction ( n = 3) and difficulties encountered with telemedicine usage (n = 2) were also explored. Conclusion When employed to connect rural mixed emergency departments with paediatric trauma centres, telemedicine has the potential to influence initial management and improve appropriate disposition rates, with demonstrated improvement in care quality and survival rates, as well as improved stakeholder satisfaction. However, there is a need for higher-quality evidence generated through prospective studies to validate the use of telemedicine in paediatric trauma and demonstrate its impact on value-based care provided to children and their support networks.