Kaitlyn D’Onofrio

DocwireNews

A recent study assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on <a href="https://www.docwirenews.com/docwire-pick/future-of-medicine-picks/analyzing-augmented-reality-ar-use-in-spinal-surgery/">spine surgeons</a>.Orthopedic surgeons were significantly impacted by the pandemic, <a href="https://www.globaldata.com/covid-19-to-impact-orthopedic-procedures-in-us-during-2020-says-globaldata/">and a recent analysis</a> forecasted that surgery volume will not return to prepandemic levels for at least a year. An estimated 83.5% of all orthopaedic surgeries were delayed due to the pandemic. Of the estimated 16.5% that were permitted to go as scheduled, these were traumas, amputations, and oncological procedures; dislocations and fractures were performed if they were considered urgent cases.However, there are less data on how the <a href="https://www.docwirenews.com/docwire-pick/rheumatology-picks/heres-how-rheumatic-patients-were-affected-during-the-early-days-of-the-covid-19-pandemic/">pandemic</a> has affected subspecialties.&ldquo;Baseline burnout rates are incredibly high in [the surgeon] population, and a global pandemic may negatively compound associated consequences,&rdquo; the authors of the present study wrote. &ldquo;Because of the suspension of most elective surgeries worldwide and in-person clinics, many surgeons have had to rapidly adjust their practice and assist on frontline duties. Additionally, surgeons work in multidisciplinary teams; thus, elective surgery cancellations have downstream effects on various health care workers.&rdquo;Spine surgeons across the globe who are members of AO Spine and opted in to receive surveys were given a multi-dimensional survey, titled the AO Spine COVID-19 and Spine Surgeon Global Impact Survey, in which questions were stratified into the following domains: demographics, COVID-19 observations, preparedness, personal impact, patient care, and future perceptions.<h2>Spine Surgeons Report Different Experiences, Opinions</h2>A total of 902 spine surgeons representing 91 countries answered the survey. Most responses came from Europe (27.5%), followed by Asia (24.2%) and North America (17.3%); 14.2% of respondents were from the U.S., followed by 8.1% from China. The majority of respondents were male (93.8%), orthopedic surgeons (70.6%), aged between 35 and 44 years (38.4%), and practiced mainly in academic and/or private institutions. Nearly all respondents (92.9%) said they currently live with a spouse, children, and/or the elderly; more than a third (36.8%) reported a medical comorbidity. Fifty-seven respondents underwent viral testing, of whom nine (15.8%) tested positive for COVID-19; 7.2% said they would not tell their patients about their infection. Large variations were observed in respondents regarding whether they had been previously tested for COVID-19 and how they felt regarding the accuracy of local and/or media coverage of the pandemic, and whether the coverage was excessive, based on geographic location.Globally, the greatest stressor was family health concerns (76.0%); anxiety levels were moderately high. Region played a large role in respondents&rsquo; answers regarding loss of income, clinical practice, and current surgical management. Half of respondents reported inadequate personal protective equipment. Most surgeons (82.3%) said they predict their clinical practice will change due to the pandemic; more than a third of clinical practice was taking place using telemedicine. Nearly all respondents were interested in online medical education (96.9%). Close to everyone (94.7%) said they are in need of formal, international COVID-19 management guidelines.The study was published in <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2192568220925783">Global Spine Journal</a>.

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