The Australian government postponed elective surgeries such as knee arthroscopy and knee replacement surgery during the COVID 19 pandemic. It was done to avoid the risk of exposure to patients and to ensure that hospital resources were available to treat patients who were severely ill with COVID 19. These restrictions have now been lifted in Victoria, allowing the possibility of in-person appointments with surgeons from Melbourne and many other cities as they offer orthopedic treatments like knee surgeries, hip surgery and treatments for other common knee pain issues.
On the 4th December 2020, the Victorian government published an article on COVID 19 and elective surgery. They advised that if you have or have recently recovered from coronavirus (COVID-19), planning elective surgery may not be the best and safest option for you, even from a hip or knee specialist. Proper COVID-19 prevention protocols were necessary for hospitals to safely provide the usual hip or knee pain treatment for many patients.
An elective surgery even from the best orthopaedic surgeon from Melbourne or Sydney does not reduce the chances of COVID-19, especially if the person is in the risk of getting infected by the disease. Consequently, some of the best hip and knee specialists in the country requested that certain measures be taken by hospitals for them to make sure that their patients can safely get treated and leave the hospital without any risks.
To avoid the danger of COVID-19 infection before and after the knee replacement or arthroscopy surgery, hospitals in Melbourne and many other cities have been screening patients while also making sure that knee/hip surgeons can do their work effectively. Patients surveys are also taken for common symptoms such as cough, muscle aches and fever. They are being tested for COVID-19 infection before treatment and asked to self-isolate until the day of surgery. Any orthopedic treatment available in Melbourne and various other cities requires the hip/knee surgeons to follow certain protocols to avoid spreading or getting infected with the virus.
Additionally, hospital staff are screened before each shift to check them for any symptoms of the COVID-19 infection. Some of the best orthopaedic surgeons from Melbourne demand the execution of such hospital protocols to ensure the safety of their patients. Senior citizens visiting the hospitals for hip/knee pain treatment are also requested to follow the COVID-19 hospital rules and wear protective equipment at all time as they have a higher possibility of getting infected with the virus.
Many hospitals have separate areas for the patients of COVID-19 to reduce the risk of transmission. The doctors and the staff from these areas do not leave without proper and complete sanitization of themselves. They also use different travel routes through the hospital to further reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Also, the best hip and knee surgeons from Melbourne and other cities are available at various hospitals to make things more convenient for patients.
Following your knee replacement or arthroscopy surgery, continue to practice social distancing, avoid large gatherings, wear a mask and wash your hands frequently. Limit or restrict visitors in your home after your knee surgery. Check with your surgeon if telehealth video or telehealth calls may be an option for you after your hip/knee surgery, the possibility is high in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and many other cities.
Orthopedic treatment available in Melbourne and many other cities of the country will be conducted in accordance with COVID-19 safety protocols. So, if you choose proper hospitals and surgeons for your knee surgery, the chances of getting infected with COVID-19 are highly unlikely.
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