The Impact of Innovative Interactive Technology on Patient Recovery in TKA

The realm of interactive technologies in health care has allowed physicians to better actively engage patients during their perioperative period. Recent technological advances, particularly smartphones and wearable sensors, have grown commonplace in the field of mobile health and have allowed for enhanced communication between patients and health care providers. With nearly 85% of Americans owning smartphones, the implementation of remote patient monitoring becomes a potential way to enhance patient-centered care and increase objective data collection surrounding patient recovery and compliance postoperatively. These innovative tools are available in many forms and formats, allowing for both synchronous and asynchronous patient communication. In this Special Focus Section of The Journal of Knee Surgery, the contributors discuss the utility of a diverse set of technologies, including mobile smartphone technologies, web-based patient portals, wearable technology, and implantable devices. These technologies have redefined the way patients and providers communicate and obtain health care information without the traditional constraints of distance, location, and time. Recent advances in mobile and internet technologies have made it easier to interact with patients electronically. Consumer-based wearable activity trackers are readily available and popular. It is anticipated that interactive technology will continue to grow within health care and increase patient and provider confidence, allowing for better real-time connectivity, evaluation, and data collection. These technologies increase patient engagement in their postoperative recovery and play a role in improving patient satisfaction. This also includes remote monitoring rehabilitation following total joint arthroplasty that has been shown to be easy to use, increase patient motivation, and used in combination with in-person rehabilitation or, in some cases, replace in-person physiotherapy. digital technology has the potential to have a greater influence in the clinical care pathway.

For patients, digital technology can enhance information retention and recall, improve accessibility and portability of information, and improve compliance with their postoperative rehabilitation. For surgeons and their teams, digital technology can enhance communication and interaction with their patients, allowing for greater interaction with their patients' recovery programs. In the care pathway, technology adds value by enhancing opportunities for enhanced interactive two-way communication between surgeons and their patients.[1]

Publication History

Article published online:
09 June 2025

• Reference

• 1 Scuderi GR, Albana MF, Mont MA. Digital technology is influencing the care of total joint patients. J Arthroplasty 2024; 39 (03) 573-574