A qualitative study exploring the experience of viewing three-dimensional medical images during an orthopaedic outpatient consultation from the perspective of patients, health care professionals, and lay representatives.

When shown to patients during an orthopaedic clinical consultation, 3D medical images may be an empowering resource. However, in this study, patients and focus group participants perceived medical images as factual and believed they could provide evidence of a diagnoses. This perception could result in overreliance in imaging tests or disregard for other forms of information.