Reopening phase in Covid19 pandemic and it's changes for Orthopaedic Surgeons – A German perspective

Covid-19 is affecting our societies for more than just one, two or three months, maybe for even longer depending on where we live. In Germany, where I am located we have meanwhile ended the lockdown phase and started reopening. In this Editorial, I will try to describe the different aspects of the changes for an Orthopaedic Surgeon in this second phase of reopening. As numbers are the main basis for decision-making in this pandemic, I will try to give you a bit of background information on them first. As situations differ depending on the country you live in, you as a reader are probably in a different situation than I am right now, but hopefully you will still get some useful information for your daily routine. Although the numbers have improved a lot, the pandemic is still affecting all aspects of our lives, therefore this editorial is again divided into 4 sections: Role as surgeon, as doctor, as teacher, and as family/society member. As of a few days ago in Germany elective surgeries are allowed to be performed again. Although processes in the OR are very similar to what we have been used to, outside the OR a lot has changed. Testing and patients, maintaining distance, wearing face masks the entire day and so on is heavily affecting our practice. Patients are still nervous to visit the doctor and enter the Hospital although a lot of them are in great pain and have restricted mobility. Even testing all of them is not diffusing the anxiety completely. Objective information by the media, the politicians and us is important to overcome this anxiety. The part of interdisciplinary work became a lot smaller in this phase of reopening. Still pathways and regulations need to be developed but now Orthopaedic work is again the centre of our day in the Hospital. In our role as teacher, we are meanwhile used to all those webinars and digital options of education. However, getting used to it does not mean that we don't miss dearly the additional value of face to face discussions. We have further experienced that building up professional relationships and networks is not only based on facts but also on social factors. Something that we still miss. Reopening has improved life in families a lot. Grandchildren can meet their grandparents again and so on. This positive effect cannot be regarded high enough. Within the society reopening, however, is more demanding than the lockdown was. Protests and conspiracy theories are numerous and it is our mission as educated scientists to inform as many people around us as possible about the facts. Overall, it has to be stated, that all parts of our lives as Orthopaedic Surgeons remain affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Life became better in a lot of ways; however, it is still a long way back to normal and we need to be patient.