[Potential of digitalization in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education and training in orthopedics and trauma surgery]. / Potenzial der Digitalisierung in Aus­, Fort- und Weiterbildung in Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie.

INTRODUCTION: In its digital agenda the German Federal Government pursues the ambitious objective to facilitate digital competence and perform research into digital learning and teaching processes. Considerable investments are to be concentrated into the future viability of education, academic research and digitalization. As far as academic teaching and further education are concerned, not only in the field of orthopedics and trauma surgery, three aspects can be identified: digital organization, digital competence and digital tools. DIGITAL APPLICATIONS: New formats, such as the elective subject digital health of the Charité in Berlin, enable digital competences to be mediated in a multimodal and interdisciplinary way. With the help of a newly developed app the University of Essen provides teachers and students with mobile and flexible access to information on lectures in terms of content and organization. Especially because of transparency, high legal compliance and predictability, the digital logbook for the resident training program promises a real innovation for trainees in the further training reformation. Augmented and virtual reality play a crucial role in the imparting of practical skills and interconnect high-tech with classical craftsmanship. Digital training course formats have significantly gained in importance and are meanwhile well-established tools for efficient advanced medical training. OUTLOOK: If orthopedic and trauma surgeons take an active role in the process of digitalization of teaching, they can take part in decisions, adequately prepare the colleagues of tomorrow, optimize patient care, encourage innovations and altogether improve the discipline even more.

[E-learning via webinars in orthopedics and trauma surgery : Increase in supply and demand during the COVID-19 pandemic]. / E-Learning per Webinar in der Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie : Intensiviertes Angebot und gesteigerte Nachfrage in der COVID-19-Pandemie.

BACKGROUND: Contact teaching was prohibited by nationwide lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. The scientific literature contains no concrete figures concerning e­learning via webinars in the subject of orthopedics and trauma surgery in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: This research study was established to collect facts and figures about webinars as a representative part of e­learning in the subject of orthopedics and trauma surgery in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: German-speaking non-commercial and edited webinars, produced by suppliers from Germany were identified using common search engines. Structured interviews with questionnaires about provider, format, and number of participants in the webinars over time, were offered to the operating companies. RESULTS: The study included four suppliers of webinars (AO Online Campus, BVOU Study Club, OU TO GO and WebDGU). There was approval of all operating companies to participate in the interviews and to disclose facts and figures about their webinars. All suppliers showed an increased supply and demand for webinars during the COVID-19 pandemic. DISCUSSION: OU TO GO and BVOU Study Club already offered webinars prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. AO online Campus was designed in addition to the existing portfolio. The supply of WebDGU was newly established. Limitations of this study are the exclusion of commercial suppliers, non-German operating companies and all other types of e­learning except webinars. The increased supply and demand for webinars during the COVID-19 pandemic gives hope for further improvement of e­learning in the subject of orthopedics and trauma surgery.