A new role for orthopaedic surgeons: ongoing changes, lessons learned, and perspectives from a level I trauma center during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has redefined global health care. With almost 13 million confirmed cases worldwide, medical professionals have been forced to modify their practice to take care of an expanded, critically ill population. Institutions have been challenged to implement innovative ways to maximize the utility and the safety of residents and personnel. Guided by lessons learned from prior mass causalities, wars, and previous pandemics, adjustments have been made in order to provide optimal care for all patients while still protecting limited resources and the lives of health care workers. Specialists who are trained in the management of lethal aspects of this disease continue to have a high demand and obvious role. Orthopedic surgeons, with ill-defined roles, have been redeployed to manage complex medical problems. Still, the need to manage trauma, fractures, infections, tumors, and dislocations remains a necessity. Various innovative measures have been taken to maximize the utility and safety of residents in the inpatient and outpatient setting. Commonalities to most measures and distinct changes in practice philosophy can be identified and applied to both current and future pandemic responses.

Letter to the editor regarding “A new role for orthopaedic surgeons: ongoing changes, lessons learned, and perspectives from a level I trauma center during the COVID-19 pandemic”

“…Telemedicine consultations, virtual fracture clinics, and remotely guided physiotherapy are some examples. 4 We do not agree entirely with Congiusta et al 1 that these telehealth modalities will be removed once the pandemic is over to be replaced by face-to-face consultations. We believe that telemedicine, in limited use before this pandemic, has shown its utility during this crisis and may be used much more extensively, even after the pandemic is over.…”

“…We enjoyed reading a recently published article by Congiusta et al 1 on the redefined roles of orthopedic surgeons during the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. Although we agree with most of the contents of this article, we would like to raise some queries and put forward more insights into this subject, as follows: It is undeniable that orthopedic surgeons are not on the front lines of the war on the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

“…In the United Kingdom, the potential “muscular power” of the junior orthopedic surgeons was utilized well in “proning” the patients in intensive care units, 6 as it is now understood that caring for critical patients while prone helps them to recover better. Congiusta et al 1 have rightly raised the issue of confusion and chaos during decision making in this pandemic. Instead of entirely relying on human minds, recent engineering technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of things, and Industry 4.0 are of immense help to make useful algorithms for health care workers to adopt during the pandemic.…”

“…Congiusta et al 1 have rightly raised the issue of confusion and chaos during decision making in this pandemic. Instead of entirely relying on human minds, recent engineering technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of things, and Industry 4.0 are of immense help to make useful algorithms for health care workers to adopt during the pandemic.…”

Elective shoulder surgery during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Germany: the patients' perspective

“…The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19)- pandemic is a challenge for health professionals all over the world 1 . With more than 42 million cases worldwide as of October 25 th 2020, it poses a substantial threat on the capacity of numerous global healthcare systems 5 .…”