Telemedicine and trauma referrals--a plastic surgery pilot project.

A pilot study of the use of digital images as an adjunct to telephone referral was undertaken. Hand trauma represented the majority of the twenty patients included in the study, and the system was found to be an effective aid to delivering appropriate management. We have found image analysis to be a useful addition to the telephone referral process already in use in our unit, but it is unlikely to replace the need for real time clinical assessment of the patient.