Journal of Hand and Microsurgery: A New Year with a Beginning

Journal of Hand and Microsurgery believes that every moment is a fresh beginning, no matter how hard and difficult the past is and how bad is post-COVID-19 recuperations. We always accept the challenge as gifts and search for a new center of gravity, a different way to stand. We have pathed our new year with a beginning by increasing the frequency of publications to four times a year, adding more vibrancy to our academic commitments. New faces are in excellent order where we are bound to feel some level of excitement as new chances come our way. A great transition from biannual to quarterly publications with additional supplement issues is a boon to our reader’s quest. We trusted the long wait, embraced the uncertainty, enjoyed the beauty of booming, and proudly said anything is possible when nothing is certain. The secret to a journal’s success is to have more and more innovative new beginnings than endings. We never gave up and started this new year with bright ideas and energy.

Journal of Hand and Microsurgery abide by the fact that the most challenging things are the right things. We conducted an online survey involving 100 orthopaedic surgeons from 50 different countries. We postulated a questionnaire explicating protocols for admission, surgeries, discharge, follow-up, relevant information affecting their surgical practices, difficulties faced, and many more essential issues happened during and after the lockdown in the early- and midlockdown phases of COVID-19.[1] This article outlined the basic, fundamental, and consensual treatment protocols for orthopaedic surgeons and reported recommendations based on scientific research analysis and consensual agreement. Different countries in the world are dealing with COVID-19 actively. We also noted that these protocols might change over the period depending on the virus resurgence or viral mutations with different presentations or its end with simple herd immunity. This article has changed many surgeons’ perspectives toward COVID-19 and renders supportive documents in their daily challenges with COVID-19.

“When it’s tough, and you need to find a way, courage, and moral impulse, I know that you can do the impossible,” says a famous quote. Journal of Hand and Microsurgery has a healthy mind to hope and always a cause to desire. What we all knew so far is the names and faces of great hand surgeons from different countries. But we did not know how they were made and brought up! Yes, the nation behind their prosperity and growth. There are leaders who endured hardship struggle to develop “hand surgery in their nation” and impart to the generations to come.

Journal of Hand and Microsurgery sparked creativity by having a special issue on hand surgery in the Asia Pacific and Middle East countries with outstanding commitment and compassion.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] The countries included are Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Singapore, Cambodia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Japan. This issue enlightens the origin of hand surgery in these countries, educate the innovations, and new techniques in various aspects of hand surgery, an amalgamation of the hand society, hand surgery training, advancement, and current scenarios with updates and so on.

We all know that every end has a great beginning. Let us all raise ourselves from the past year’s COVID-19 pandemic crisis and hope to begin a new year with a positive thought and planning. Also, learn from yesterday, live for today and wish the best for tomorrow. The time for new beginnings is now, and the best is yet to be. Enjoy reading this issue of Journal of Hand and Microsurgery!

Publication History

Article published online:
07 March 2021

• References

• 1 Jerome JT, Mercier F, Mudgal CS. et al; IlavarasuTamilmani 13. Perspectives and consensus among international orthopaedic surgeons during initial and mid-lockdown phases of coronavirus disease. J Hand Microsurg 2020; 12 (03) 135-162
• 2 Kattan AE, Al-Qattan MM. Hand surgery in Saudi Arabia. J Hand Microsurg 2021;13(1):2-3
• 3 Patel SC, Smith K, Mohammed KD. Hand surgery in New Zealand. J Hand Microsurg 2021;13(1):4-9
• 4 Pei-Yein T, Chia DSY, Omar UF, et al. Hand surgery in Singapore. J Hand Microsurg 2021;13(1):10-15
• 5 Rajaratnam V, Rahman NA, Kim YJ, Gollogly WLLJ. Hand surgery in Cambodia. J Hand Microsurg 2021;13(1):16-20
• 6 Ahmad TS, Ahmad AA, Abdullah S. Hand surgery in Malaysia. J Hand Microsurg 2021;13(1):21-26
• 7 Wong WYC, Tse WL, Koo SCJJ. Hand surgery in Hong Kong. J Hand Microsurg 2021;13(1):27-34
• 8 Niempoog S, Witoonchart K, Jaroenporn W. Hand surgery in Thailand. J Hand Microsurg 2021;13(1):35-41
• 9 Minamikawa Y, Horii E, Hamada Y, Komatsu I. Hand surgery in Japan. J Hand Microsurg 2021;13(1):42-48