COVID-19 orthopaedic trauma volumes: a Canadian experience during lockdown and staged reopening

High-energy blunt pelvic ring injury incidence and polytrauma caseload in a single level I trauma center during COVID-19 related pseudo-lockdown measures: a retrospective cohort study based on a prospective registry

BACKGROUND

Pelvic ring injuries are potentially lethal lesions associated with polytrauma patients and need an efficient trauma team for their management. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of high-energy blunt pelvic ring injuries and the absolute number of polytrauma patients in a single level I trauma center during the 2020 pseudo-lockdown period related to the Coronavirus pandemic, and to compare it with corresponding periods in 2014-2019 in order to better understand the need of organized and dedicated personnel and infrastructures.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study was based on data prospectively recorded into the institutional Severely Injured Patients' Registry. Data were obtained for each year period (January 1st to December 31st) and corresponding pseudo-lockdown period (March 16th to June 19th). High-energy blunt pelvic ring injuries inclusion criteria were: (1) Registry entry between January 1st, 2014 and December 31st, 2020; (2) age ≥ 16 years old; and (3) pelvic ring injury presence. Corresponding exclusion criteria were: (1) death before admission; (2) transfer from another institution > 24 h after trauma; (3) penetrating, blast, burn and electrical injuries, drownings; (4) patients living outside the defined institution's catchment area; and (5) any document attesting the patient's will to not participate in any study. Polytrauma patients inclusion criteria were: (1) Registry entry between January 1st, 2014 and December 31st, 2020; (2) age ≥ 16 years old; and (3) Injury Severity Score ≥ 16. Corresponding exclusion criteria were: (1) death before admission; (2) transfer from another institution > 24 h after trauma; and (3) any document attesting the patient's will to not participate in any study. Categorical variables were reported using proportions and continuous variables using medians and interquartile ranges. Because data were exhaustive for the authors' level I trauma center, no inferential statistics were computed.

RESULTS

The incidence of high-energy blunt pelvic ring injuries and the absolute number of polytrauma patients remained within range of previous years despite pseudo-lockdown measures.

CONCLUSIONS

These observations bring better knowledge about pseudo-lockdown's impact on trauma and may help for future health strategy planning by pointing out the importance of maintaining the activity of level I trauma centers in terms of personnel and infrastructures.

Differences in Resumption of Orthopedic Surgery According to Characteristics of Surgery during COVID-19 Pandemic: National Registry Data

Background

Healthcare services have been restricted after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. With the pandemic still ongoing, the patterns of orthopedic surgery might have changed. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the reduced volumes of orthopedic surgery were recovered over time. Among the trauma and elective surgery, which accounted for most orthopedic surgical procedures, we also sought to elucidate whether the changes in the volumes of orthopedic surgery differed according to the type of surgery.

Methods

The volumes of orthopedic surgery were analyzed using the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service of Korea databases. The surgical procedure codes were categorized depending on the characteristics of the procedures. The actual volumes of surgery were compared with the expected volumes to elucidate the effect of COVID-19 on surgical volumes. The expected volumes of surgery were estimated using Poisson regression models.

Results

The reducing effect of COVID-19 on the volumes of orthopedic surgery weakened as COVID-19 continued. Although the total volumes of orthopedic surgery decreased by 8.5%-10.1% in the first wave, those recovered to a 2.2%-2.8% decrease from the expected volumes during the second and third waves. Among the trauma and elective surgery, open reduction and internal fixation and cruciate ligament reconstruction decreased as COVID-19 continued, while total knee arthroplasty recovered. However, the volumes of hemiarthroplasty of the hip did not decrease through the year.

Conclusions

The number of orthopedic surgeries, which had decreased due to COVID-19, tended to recover over time, although the pandemic was still ongoing. However, the degree of resumption differed according to the characteristics of surgery. The findings of our study will be helpful to estimate the burden of orthopedic surgery in the era of persistent COVID-19.

Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiological profile of the initial care of victims of falls

OBJECTIVE

to assess the epidemiological profile of trauma patients from fall from the same level (FSL) and fall from an elevated level (FEL) during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to compare it with data from different levels of restriction (flags) and data prior to the pandemic.

METHOD

a cross-sectional study with a probability sample of the medical records of patients aged 18 years or older admitted to the emergency room due to falls, from June 2020 to May 2021. Epidemiological data, such as sex, age and injuries were analyzed, as well the current level of restriction. The three restriction periods were compared between then and the proportion of admissions due to falls was compared with the period from December 2016 to February 2018.

RESULTS

a total of 296 admissions were evaluated, 69.9% were victims of FSL and 30.1% of FEL. The mean age was 57.6 years, and 45.6% were over 60 years old. Admissions among men predominated, and 40.2% of patients required hospitalization. During the red flag period, there were proportionally more injuries to the head and neck (p=0.016), injuries to extremities (p=0.015) and neurological trauma (p<0.001). An average of 6.1, 6.3 and 5.2 admissions per day was obtained during the yellow, orange and red flag, respectively. There was a relative increase in falls when compared to the pre-pandemic period.

CONCLUSIONS

there was an absolute reduction in admissions of victims of falls in midst of the most restrictive period during the pandemic. However, when compared to pre-pandemic data, there was a relative increase in falls.

Influência da pandemia da COVID-19 no perfil epidemiológico do atendimento inicial de pacientes vítimas de quedas

RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar o perfil epidemiológico do trauma por quedas de mesmo nível (QMN) e quedas de nível elevado (QNE) durante a pandemia da COVID-19, realizar a comparação dos dados entre os níveis de restrição (bandeiras) e comparar com dados prévios à pandemia. Método: estudo transversal com amostragem probabilística de prontuários de pacientes com 18 anos ou mais admitidos na sala de emergência devido a quedas de junho de 2020 a maio de 2021. Foram avaliados dados epidemiológicos, como sexo, idade e lesões resultantes, além da bandeira vigente. Os três períodos de restrição foram comparados entre si e a proporção de atendimentos por quedas foi comparada com o período de dezembro de 2016 a fevereiro de 2018. Resultados: avaliou-se 296 atendimentos, sendo 69,9% vítimas de QMN e 30,1% de QNE. A média de idade foi 57,6 anos, sendo que 45,6% apresentavam idade superior a 60 anos. Sexo masculino predominou e 40,2% dos pacientes necessitaram internamento hospitalar. Durante a bandeira vermelha proporcionalmente ocorreram mais lesões em cabeça e pescoço (p=0,016), trauma em extremidades (p=0,015) e neurológico (p<0,001). Obteve-se uma média de 6,1, 6,3 e 5,2 atendimentos/dia durante a bandeira amarela, laranja e vermelha respectivamente. Ocorreu um aumento significativo da ocorrência de quedas quando comparado ao período prévio à pandemia. Conclusões: durante o período pandêmico, verificou-se uma redução absoluta de atendimentos de vítimas de quedas na bandeira mais restritiva. Porém, quando comparado ao período pré-pandêmico, verifica-se um aumento significativo das quedas.

Effect of Quarantine and Reopening Measures on Pediatric Trauma Admissions During the 2019 SARS-CoV2 Virus Pandemic

BACKGROUND

Several studies have reported decreased trauma admissions and increased physical abuse in children resulting from stay-at-home measures. However, these studies have focused on a limited period after the implementation of lockdown policies. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of quarantine and reopening initiatives on admissions for varying types of injuries in pediatric patients.

STUDY DESIGN

Registry data for an urban Level I pediatric trauma center were evaluated from April 1, 2018, to March 30, 2021. A timeline of local shutdown and reopening measures was established and used to partition the data into 6-month intervals. Data about demographics and injury characteristics were compared with similar intervals in 2018 and 2019 using appropriate statistical methodology for categorical, parametric, and nonparametric data.

RESULTS

A total of 3,110 patients met criteria for inclusion. A total of 1,106 patients were admitted the year after the closure of schools and nonessential businesses. Decreases in overall admissions and evaluations for suspected child abuse noted early in the pandemic were not sustained during shutdown or reopening periods. However, we observed a 77% increase in all-terrain vehicle injuries, along with a 59% reduction in sports injuries (chi-square [8, N = 3,110] = 49.7; p < 0.001). Significant shifts in demographic and payor status were also noted.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to comprehensively examine the effects of quarantine and reopening policies on admission patterns for a pediatric trauma center in a metropolitan area. Total admissions and child abuse evaluations were not impacted. If shutdown measures are re-instituted, preventative efforts should be directed towards ATV use and recreational activities.