Virtual clinics in foot and ankle surgery: patient and clinician perceptions.

BACKGROUND: The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has led to the popularisation of 'virtual' clinics. In orthopaedics, little is known about the use of virtual clinics within foot and ankle surgery, specifically. METHODS: A cross-sectional observation study of patients and clinicians in response to virtual clinics in foot and ankle surgery. Patients seen in a virtual clinic were contacted by telephone from two weeks after their consultation and asked to complete a 12-point questionnaire. Demographic information was also collected. Clinicians in foot and ankle completed a 10-point questionnaire. RESULTS: One hundred patient responses were collected. Patient satisfaction with virtual clinics was positive, with 65% of respondents reporting they were very happy (Likert scale rating 5). More than 90% of patients felt they received enough information, felt involved, felt the virtual clinic was helpful and knew who to contact if there was a problem. However, 79% would still prefer a face-to-face consultation, and 22% would have preferred a video consultation. Clinician responses were more cautious, with 60% stating they were neither happy nor unhappy (Likert scale rating 3). Virtual clinics may be faster for the clinician. CONCLUSIONS: Virtual clinics may be more convenient for patients, with high satisfaction levels reported, but represent significant clinical challenges for foot and ankle surgeons. Elements of virtual clinics may persist post pandemic, particularly in routine follow-up. Virtual clinics are not appropriate for new patient referrals.

Spherical aberration analysis by double wire testing.

Testing of optical systems by the use of two wires situated in defocused positions gives qualitative and quantitative data on spherical aberration. The test device allows two knife edge tests to be made in addition to the double wire test. These three correlated tests minimize errors in interpretation.

Making and testing right angle and dove prisms.

Prisms with reflecting faces and angles of 2 sec or less can be made and tested by the use of a simple collimator. The collimator is set to autocollimate internally the angles made by the reflecting faces of the prisms.

Reduplication of a penta prism angle using master angle prisms and a plano-interferometer.

The use of small master angle prisms optically contacted to a large prism offers a method for reduplicating reflecting angle surfaces of prisms by interferometric measurements. Optical working and testing procedures are described for making a typical prism-the penta prism was selected.