Addressing Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Spine Surgery: A Rapid National Consensus Using the Delphi Method via Teleconference
The magnitude and potential duration of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is something that most doctors currently in practice have yet to experience. While considerable information regarding COVID-19 is being published every day, it is challenging to filter out the most relev...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Korean Spine Society
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Asian Spine Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.asianspinejournal.org/upload/pdf/asj-2020-0224.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818437200953475072 |
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| author | Kimberly-Anne Tan Vishaal Nanik Thadani Daniel Chan Jacob Yoong-Leong Oh Gabriel Ka-Po Liu |
| author_facet | Kimberly-Anne Tan Vishaal Nanik Thadani Daniel Chan Jacob Yoong-Leong Oh Gabriel Ka-Po Liu |
| author_sort | Kimberly-Anne Tan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The magnitude and potential duration of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is something that most doctors currently in practice have yet to experience. While considerable information regarding COVID-19 is being published every day, it is challenging to filter out the most relevant or appropriate information for our individual practice. The Spine Society of Singapore convened via a teleconference on April 24, 2020 to collaborate on a national level and share collective wisdom in order to tackle the ongoing crisis. In the teleconference, 13 spine surgeons from across various hospitals in Singapore constituted the panel of experts. The following topics were discussed: repurposing of surgeons, continuity of spine services, introduction of telemedicine, triaging of spinal surgeries, preoperative testing, new challenges in performing spine surgery, and preparing for the post-pandemic era. While some issues required only the sharing of best practices, the Delphi panel method was adopted to form a consensus on others. Existing spine specific triage guidelines were debated and a locally accepted set of guidelines was established. Although preoperative testing is currently not performed routinely, the panel voted in favor of its implementation because they concluded that it is vital to protect themselves, their colleagues, and their patients. Solutions to operating room specific concerns were also discussed. This article reflects the opinions and insights shared during this meeting and reviews the evidence relevant to the issues that were raised. The rapid consensus reached during the teleconference has enabled us to be concerted, and thus stronger, in our national efforts to provide the best standard of care via our spine services in these challenging times. We believe that this article will provide some guidance for addressing COVID-19 in spine surgery and encourage other national/regional societies to conduct similar discussions that would help their navigation of this pandemic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T17:20:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b876ee029a0442d58bcc94416601845b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1976-1902 1976-7846 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T17:20:54Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | Korean Spine Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Asian Spine Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-b876ee029a0442d58bcc94416601845b2022-12-21T22:53:20ZengKorean Spine SocietyAsian Spine Journal1976-19021976-78462020-06-0114337338110.31616/asj.2020.02241203Addressing Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Spine Surgery: A Rapid National Consensus Using the Delphi Method via TeleconferenceKimberly-Anne Tan0Vishaal Nanik Thadani1Daniel Chan2Jacob Yoong-Leong Oh3Gabriel Ka-Po Liu4 University Orthopaedics, Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery (UOHC), National University Health System, Singapore University Orthopaedics, Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery (UOHC), National University Health System, Singapore Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sengkang General Hospital, Singapore Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore University Orthopaedics, Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery (UOHC), National University Health System, SingaporeThe magnitude and potential duration of the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is something that most doctors currently in practice have yet to experience. While considerable information regarding COVID-19 is being published every day, it is challenging to filter out the most relevant or appropriate information for our individual practice. The Spine Society of Singapore convened via a teleconference on April 24, 2020 to collaborate on a national level and share collective wisdom in order to tackle the ongoing crisis. In the teleconference, 13 spine surgeons from across various hospitals in Singapore constituted the panel of experts. The following topics were discussed: repurposing of surgeons, continuity of spine services, introduction of telemedicine, triaging of spinal surgeries, preoperative testing, new challenges in performing spine surgery, and preparing for the post-pandemic era. While some issues required only the sharing of best practices, the Delphi panel method was adopted to form a consensus on others. Existing spine specific triage guidelines were debated and a locally accepted set of guidelines was established. Although preoperative testing is currently not performed routinely, the panel voted in favor of its implementation because they concluded that it is vital to protect themselves, their colleagues, and their patients. Solutions to operating room specific concerns were also discussed. This article reflects the opinions and insights shared during this meeting and reviews the evidence relevant to the issues that were raised. The rapid consensus reached during the teleconference has enabled us to be concerted, and thus stronger, in our national efforts to provide the best standard of care via our spine services in these challenging times. We believe that this article will provide some guidance for addressing COVID-19 in spine surgery and encourage other national/regional societies to conduct similar discussions that would help their navigation of this pandemic.http://www.asianspinejournal.org/upload/pdf/asj-2020-0224.pdfspine surgerycovid-19consensusdelphi methodteleconference |
| spellingShingle | Kimberly-Anne Tan Vishaal Nanik Thadani Daniel Chan Jacob Yoong-Leong Oh Gabriel Ka-Po Liu Addressing Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Spine Surgery: A Rapid National Consensus Using the Delphi Method via Teleconference Asian Spine Journal spine surgery covid-19 consensus delphi method teleconference |
| title | Addressing Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Spine Surgery: A Rapid National Consensus Using the Delphi Method via Teleconference |
| title_full | Addressing Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Spine Surgery: A Rapid National Consensus Using the Delphi Method via Teleconference |
| title_fullStr | Addressing Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Spine Surgery: A Rapid National Consensus Using the Delphi Method via Teleconference |
| title_full_unstemmed | Addressing Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Spine Surgery: A Rapid National Consensus Using the Delphi Method via Teleconference |
| title_short | Addressing Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Spine Surgery: A Rapid National Consensus Using the Delphi Method via Teleconference |
| title_sort | addressing coronavirus disease 2019 in spine surgery a rapid national consensus using the delphi method via teleconference |
| topic | spine surgery covid-19 consensus delphi method teleconference |
| url | http://www.asianspinejournal.org/upload/pdf/asj-2020-0224.pdf |
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