As elective surgeries get the green light to resume, some patients may have concerns about getting surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Debbie Doran is an avid exerciser and traveler, but she was sidelined by knee pain.
“I couldn’t walk. My knee hurt that bad,” shared Doran.
Then, COVID-19 sidelined her knee replacement surgery … twice.
“Because of COVID, it was cancelled. Then we rescheduled for April and, it was cancelled,” continued Doran.
As elective surgeries begin to resume, some doctors are recommending their patients have surgery now in case there is another spike in COVID cases.
Richard Berger, MD, an orthopedic Surgeon at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush said, “I tell my patients now is the best time to get surgery because if it gets bad, we may have to cancel elective surgeries or at least postpone them again.”
But is getting surgery at the hospital safe?
“Other than staying home, it’s about the safest place you can possibly go,” continued Dr. Berger.