Resiliency

Abstract

We are now 2 years into the global COVID-19 pandemic. The Omicron variant has peaked and waned, mask mandates are relaxing, and we are gradually resuming a new normalcy in clinical operations and in our lives. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting is just around the corner in Chicago, and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) Spring Meeting is upcoming in May in San Francisco. Soon, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons will be holding 2 Resident Courses in Arthroplasty at the Orthopaedic Learning Center in Rosemont. It feels as though a difficult period is ending, and, in a small way, we can breathe easier, worry less, and get back to our routines. Staffing has presented substantial challenges for all of us in the effort to maintain our clinical practices and was the number one problem for surgeons, according to a poll at the AAHKS Annual Meeting in November. At present, the world is transfixed on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has already had resulted in enormous human casualties [1], forced migration, caused disruption in global markets, and stoked fears of a potential nuclear action. We are in tumultuous times that challenge our resiliency. Take time and attention to maintain your mindfulness and personal wellness and stay aware of the toll that these stresses take on your mindset and on the mental health of your colleagues and peers. While the pandemic is hopefully waning, this issue has 2 informative articles about the impact of COVID-19 on access to surgery and the effect of vaccination status on postoperative symptomatic COVID-19 after elective arthroplasty [2,3]. Other highlights include a study looking at the effectiveness of resorbable beads in treatment of infection with debridement and implant retention [4] and another article investigating patients’ perception of their scar after different surgical approaches for hip arthroplasty [5]. I am pleased to announce the promotion of Anna Cohen-Rosenblum, MD, to the position of Social Media Editor. She assumes the reins on April 1, taking over for Jaime Bellamy, DO, who has been hired to replace Chad Krueger, MD, as the Social Media Editor for the Journal of Arthroplasty. Jaime has been instrumental in raising our presence with her creative posts and visual abstracts, and we wish her well in her new role. We have made great strides in transparency of conflict of interest reporting and documentation of informed consent of patients for case reports [6]. As a result, we are poised to apply for Clarivate indexing, which is a major milestone. As always, I am humbly indebted to the support of our editorial board, the AAHKS staff, the staff at Elsevier, our peer review manager Taylor Bowen, our authors, reviewers, and readers, without whom we could not function. Thanks also to Michael Mont, MD, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Arthroplasty, for his unyielding support of Arthroplasty Today and me personally. In difficult times, we need to stand together to support each other, take the best care of our patients, serve our communities, advocate, and educate, to fulfill our mission and vision. Thank you for the tremendous opportunity to serve in this capacity as the Editor-in-Chief of Arthroplasty Today. It is a team sport, to be sure, and I trust that we as orthopaedic surgeons will remain leaders and beacons of resiliency. Conflicts of Interest G. Golladay receives royalties from Stryker, Inc, has received research support from KCI and Cerus, has received financial support from AAHKS, is on the editorial board for JOA and Arthroplasty Today, and is a committee member for AAHKS and a board member of the Virginia Orthopaedic Society.