Int J Sports Med 2018; 39(07): 564-570
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-124369
Orthopedics & Biomechanics
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Social Media in Shoulder & Elbow Surgery: An Analysis of Twitter and Instagram

Prem N. Ramkumar
1   Cleveland Clinic, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland, United States
,
Sergio M. Navarro
2   Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Houston, United States
,
Margaret M. Cornaghie
2   Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Houston, United States
,
Heather S. Haeberle
2   Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Houston, United States
,
Hafsah Hameed
2   Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Houston, United States
,
Mark S. Schickendantz
1   Cleveland Clinic, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland, United States
,
Eric T. Ricchetti
1   Cleveland Clinic, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland, United States
,
Joseph P. Iannotti
1   Cleveland Clinic, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted 27 November 2017

Publication Date:
14 May 2018 (online)

Abstract

Social media provide a unique method of analyzing outcomes and quality in medicine. The purpose of this observational study was to investigate the nature of social media content related to shoulder and elbow (S&E) surgery posted by patients, surgeons, and hospitals. A public search of Instagram for a two-year period yielded 1,177 patient-related posts. A categorical system assessed the perspective, timing, tone, and content of each post. Twitter accounts of 77 S&E specialists from the top five ranked U.S. News & World Report institutions were analyzed for activity and content. 5,246 Twitter and Instagram posts for the institutions were analyzed for frequency and content. Most patient-related posts were by patients (68%), postoperative (82%), positive (87%), and centered on return-to-play for Tommy John (34%), surgical site for shoulder arthroplasty (52%), and activities of daily living for rotator cuff repair (22%). 37% of surgeons had active accounts averaging 46 posts, 87% of which were practice advertisements. Hospitals averaged 273 posts over the 2-year period, focusing on education (38%) and community (18%). S&E patients share outcomes on social media in a positive tone with procedure-dependent emphases. Surgeons on social media use sites for practice augmentation. Hospitals often focused posts towards educating the community.

 
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