EVALUATION OF A MULTISITE ANKLE AND FOOT CONSULTATION

Purpose: This prospective study focused on an interhospital collaboration for foot and ankle surgery. Collaboration was organised between the referring surgeon and four regional foot and ankle specialists. We evaluated concordance and discordance between expert opinions.Material and methods: Patients for whom an opinion was requested were selected by the requesting surgeon based on problems involving diagnosis or therapeutic indications. Opinions were requested by email. Individual protocols were established for the clinical report and x-ray file of each type of condition. The final therapeutic decision was made by the requesting surgeon.Results: Among the 450 patients seen for foot and ankle disorders, opinions were requested from experts for 30. The conditions involved: the forefoot (46%), the middle foot (16%), the hindfoot (7%) and the ankle (31%). Mean time for the response was eleven days (1–60). Experts responded to all requests (120 responses) but in four cases (3%) could not provide an opinion. T...