Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on orthopedic surgeon in Pakistan

Background: The objective of our study is to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on clinical practice as well as psychological impact on orthopedic surgeons of Pakistan.Method: An online survey involving orthopedic surgeons through social media platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook and also through email, to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. Our survey also aims to evaluate their state of mind and physical as well as emotional wellbeing in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.Results: Among 77 respondents, mostly 31 (40.3%) were consultant and mostly 28 (36.4%) having experience in field of orthopedics was between 5-10 years. This data revealed 48 (62.3%) respondents did not received any specific training or recommendations about COVID pandemic from their institute and only 37 (48.1%) reported they are well informed on latest COVID guidelines. Interestingly, this data revealed the willingness of orthopedic surgeons 30 (39%) to take care of COVID-19 positive patients in ICU.67 (87%) feel anxious, stressed, furious, angry or depressed due to pandemic and most common fear among them was to infect their family members followed by getting infected and loss of their life and health. 40 (51.9%) did not think their institute is well equipped to deal COVID pandemic.Conclusions: Orthopedic community nevertheless have to play an important role in the face of an increasing psychological and emotional stress which comes from working in a post COVID era. The dread of getting infected while treating and the sinking feeling of spreading the contagion to their loved ones has put a massive toll on the emotional well-being and needs to be addressed through open and fair discussion

Vibration Energy at Damage-Based Statistical Approach to Detect Multiple Damages in Roller Bearings

This study proposes a statistical approach based on vibration energy at damage to detect multiple damages occurring in roller bearings. The analysis was performed at four different rotating speeds—1002, 1500, 2400, and 3000 RPM—following four different damages—inner race, outer race, ball, and combination damage—and under two types of loading conditions. These experiments were performed on a SpectraQuest Machinery Fault Simulator™ by acquiring the vibration data through accelerometers under two operating conditions: with the bearing loader on the rotor shaft and without the bearing loader on the rotor shaft. The histograms showed diversity in the defected bearing as compared to the intact bearing. There was a marked increase in the kurtosis values of each damaged roller bearing. This research article proposes that histograms, along with kurtosis values, represent changes in vibration energy at damage that can easily detect a damaged bearing. This study concluded that the vibration energy at damage-based statistical technique is an outstanding approach to detect damages in roller bearings, assisting Industry 4.0 to diagnose faults automatically