Sir,
Digital photography is an extensively used tool for documentation of the clinical
presentation of patients and medical and surgical procedures, and it is important
from both scientific and medicolegal point of view. Digital photography equipment
is easily available and affordable currently.
Best photographs are captured by professional photographers in standard conditions.
Medical photographers are professionalists who photograph patients in clinics and
operation rooms and aware of sterile procedures. Unfortunately, not every medical
facility employs a medical photographer. Shooting a picture intraoperatively can sometimes
become a challenge when there is no one but untrained staff available.
To take pictures in a sterile medium, gas sterilised underwater camera cases may be
used with almost no added infection risk.[1]
[2]
[3] However, we are in the era of smartphones and cameras are used less than they were
in the past. We need solutions for smartphones for intraoperative photography.
The surgeon might put on an extra pair of sterile gloves and shoot the picture himself,
but in some circumstances, his both hands are busy. When a staff takes picture with
a smartphone intraoperatively, he/she puts the sterile drapes at danger by approaching
to the surgical site. He/she might lose focus or cannot prevent tremor while trying
to hold the phone with the arms stretched over the surgical site [Figure 1]. To avoid these problems, we offer a cheap and practical solution. Selfie stick
is a monopod that positions the phone beyond the normal range of the arm. It is very
cheap, available, and easily used by anyone. After connecting the phone to the device
either by bluetooth or by a cable, the stick is extended to the desired length [Figure 2]. The piece that holds the phone is hinged and can be adjusted as desired. The surgeon
can direct the staff for best shot. The staff can hold the stick with both hands and
lessen the tremor. Thus, we think that selfie stick can be a helpful accessory to
take intraoperative pictures without endangering sterile surgical site.
Figure 1: Photograph taken in an ordinary way
Figure 2: Photograph taken by a selfie stick
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
