The orthopaedic experience of COVID-19: A literature review

Trend, disparities, and projection analysis of public data on foot fractures in Sweden: a retrospective analysis of 179 129 fractures

INTRODUCTION

Orthopedic injuries to the foot constitute a significant portion of lower extremity injuries, necessitating an understanding of trends for effective preventive strategies and resource allocation. Demographic shifts, improved traffic safety, and lifelong physical activity may alter incidence rates, trauma mechanisms, and fracture distribution. This study explores the prevalence of foot fractures in Sweden using publicly available data.

METHODS

Utilizing data from the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (SNBHW) spanning 2008-2022, retrospective study focuses on foot fractures in Sweden. Analysis includes calculating annual incidence rates per 100,000 person-years, assessing temporal trends, and exploring seasonal variations. Poisson regression analysis was used for projections into 2035.

RESULTS

Between 2008-2022, the average annual foot fracture incidence was 11,942, with notable fluctuations influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Age and sex disparities impact rates, and seasonal variance highlights increased incidence in summer. By 2035, foot fractures will decreasae amongst several demographic groups.

CONCLUSION

This study provides insights into temporal trends, sex differences, and seasonal variations foot fracture patterns in Sweden. The identified trends suggest the utilization of targeted preventive strategies, efficient resource allocation, and informed healthcare planning. Despite limitations, this research offers valuable insights into foot fractures within the Swedish population, utilizing publicly aggregated data.

Antibacterial activities of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotube with planar titanium silver (TiAg) to prevent orthopedic implant infection

BACKGROUND

Orthopedic implant infection has become a common catastrophic complication after various orthopedic implants, which can lead to prolonged use of antibiotics and even surgical failure. The quality of care (QoC) of orthopedic implant infection is very important.

METHODS

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotube array with planar TiAg was prepared, and their antibacterial rates were tested. 400 patients hospitalized in the Department of Orthopedics of Wuhan Fourth Hospital from May 2019 to May 2020 were selected as controls (before QoC evaluation system of orthopedics), and 400 patients hospitalized from June 2020 to June 2021 were selected as observation group (after QoC evaluation system of orthopedics).

RESULTS

Regardless of Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli, the antibacterial rate of TiO2 nanotube array with planar TiAg was clearly higher than that of pure iron film on the 10th and 20th days (P < 0.05). The accuracy of hospitalization assessment, disease assessment, adverse event intervention, nursing record filing and nursing satisfaction in observation group were higher as against controls (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The TiO2 nanotube array with planar TiAg has good antibacterial property, which can effectively prevent orthopedic implant infection. The construction of QoC evaluation system for orthopedic specialists can effectively improve the QoC of orthopedic specialists.

The Era of Digital Orthopedics: A Bone or Bane?

Orthopedics, the medical specialty dedicated to diagnosing, treating, and preventing disorders of the musculoskeletal system, has long been a cornerstone of healthcare. With an aging population and an increasing emphasis on maintaining an active lifestyle, the demand for orthopedic care is on the rise. However, the field of orthopedics is rapidly evolving, and one of the most significant developments in recent years is the emergence of digital orthopedics [1, 2]. This transformation is reshaping the way orthopedic care is delivered, from diagnosis and treatment to patient outcomes and beyond. In this editorial, we explore the concept of digital orthopedics, its implications, and the potential benefits it offers to both patients and health-care professionals.

Interobserver Agreement and Satisfaction With the use of Telemedicine for Evaluating low Back Pain: A Primary, Observational, Cross-Sectional, Analytical Study

STUDY DESIGN

A primary, observational, cross-sectional, analytical study.

OBJECTIVE

The development of a framework for systematic telemedicine (TM) for orthopedic physicians in frequent clinical care may increase agreement in diagnosis and satisfaction among users of TM. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the agreement in the diagnosis of low back pain (LBP) between TM, systematized by a self-completed digital questionnaire, and face-to-face (FF) care in patients with LBP.

METHODS

This study included adults up to 75 years of age with LBP for more than 6 weeks. They were evaluated at 2 independent time points (TM and FF) by different orthopedists with 3 different levels of expertise. Professionals evaluated the sample without prior knowledge of the diagnosis, and each orthopedist provided a diagnosis. Diagnostic agreement was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were the duration of the visit and satisfaction among healthcare professionals.

RESULTS

A total of 168 participants were eligible, of whom 126 sought care through TM and 122 sought FF care (mean age, 47 years [range, 18-75 years]; 66.4% women). The agreement among professionals regarding the diagnosis was moderate (kappa = .585, P = .001). TM was faster than FF (11.9 minutes (standard deviation = 4.1) vs 18.6 (SD = 6.9), P < .001). Professional satisfaction was higher among spine specialists than among orthopedic residents and orthopedists who were not specialists in spine surgery.

CONCLUSION

Agreement in diagnosis was moderate for TM, with a 30% shorter visit duration than FF. Satisfaction varied by professional expertise and was higher among spine specialists than among professionals with other expertise.

Second and Third Pandemic Waves in Apulia: How COVID-19 Affected Orthopedic and Trauma Care-A Single-Center Study

PURPOSE

In orthopedics and traumatology, as a direct consequence of the COVID-19 first wave, there was a massive reorganization and a stop to all elective activities, which were postponed. In this study, we aimed to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on orthopedic surgery in Apulia during the second wave, from March to June 2021 (when Apulia was under social distancing restrictions), and during the third wave, from September to December 2021 (when Apulia was under no restrictions). We compared these months to the same periods in 2019 for an evaluation of the surgical decrease during the pandemic period.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of major orthopedic procedures, day-surgery procedures and urgent procedures (trauma and non-traumatic amputation) performed during the second and third waves of the pandemic in our clinic, and we compared these data with the same procedures performed in the corresponding periods of 2019, before the pandemic.

RESULTS

Surgical activity was significantly decreased during both periods; the only increase in surgical activity in 2021 compared to 2019 was in total hip, knee and shoulder arthroplasty, with a surge of +7.69% registered in the period September-December 2021.

CONCLUSIONS

Longer waiting lists and limited healthcare resources were the big challenges for the orthopedic community, and they still represent a substantial issue to confront today.

Telemedicine Orthopedic Consultations Duration and Timing in Outpatient Clinical Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: Orthopedic associations advocated telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent disease transmission without hindering providing services to orthopedic patients. The study aimed to evaluate outpatient orthopedic teleconsultations' timing, length, and organizational issues in the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic based on consecutive orthopedic teleconsultations during the period of the first lockdown. Methods: Orthopedic telemedical consultations (OTCs) were provided from March 23, 2020, to June 1, 2020, and analyzed retrospectively based on mobile smartphone billing and electronic health record. Teleconsultations were based on the legal regulations of telemedicine services in Poland. Results: One thousand seventy-one patients (514 women and 557 men) with a mean age of 41.7 were teleconsulted. The length of the OTC averagely lasted 13.36 min (standard deviation 8.63). Consulted patients suffered from orthopedic disorders 65.3%, musculoskeletal injuries 26.3%, and other diseases 8.4%. Most OTCs were delayed (74.22%) concerning the planned schedule, with a median delay time of 12 min. Only 7.3% of teleconsultations were held precisely on time. Conclusions: Televisit length may not be dependent on gender, older age, or more diagnoses. The services like e-prescriptions, e-Referrals, e-Orders for orthotics, and e-Sick-leaves influence OTC length. Any extension of the patient's OTC may create a "snowball effect" of further delay for each subsequent OTC. Orthopedic teleconsultation requires new understanding and skills by both the patient and specialist physicians. Future research directions should concern the practical aspects of orthopedic teleconsultations, like legal, organizational, and technological issues and their implementation.

Perioperative use of intra-articular steroids during the COVID-19 pandemic

PURPOSE

There are growing concerns with the widely used glucocorticoids during the Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic due to the associated immunosuppressive effects, which may increase the risk of COVID-19 infection and worsen COVID-19 patient outcome. Heavily affecting orthopaedics, the pandemic led to delay and cancellation of almost all surgical cases, and procedures including perioperative intra-articular corticosteroid injections (ICIs) saw similar decreases. However, the benefits of ICI treatments during the pandemic may outweigh these potential risks, and their continued use may be warranted.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted, and all relevant articles including original articles and reviews were identified and considered in full for inclusion, and analysed with expert opinion. Epidemiological statistics and medical guidelines were consulted from relevant authorities.

RESULTS

ICIs allow a targeted approach on the affected joint and are effective in reducing pain while improving functional outcome and patient quality-of-life. ICIs delay the requirement for surgery, accommodating for the increased healthcare burden during the pandemic, while reducing postoperative hospital stay, bringing significant financial benefits. However, ICIs can exert systemic effects and suppress the immune system. ICIs may increase the risk of COVID-19 infection and reduce the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccinations, leading to important public health implications.

CONCLUSION

Perioperative ICI treatments may bring significant, multifaceted benefits during the pandemic. However, ICIs increase the risk of infection, and perioperative COVID-19 is associated with mortality. The use of ICIs during the COVID-19 pandemic should therefore be considered carefully on an individual patient basis, weighing the associated risks and benefits.

Influence of COVID-19 Protocols on the Efficiency of Trauma Theater: Retrospective Observational Study

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced health care delivery significantly. Numerous studies have highlighted that trauma theater efficiency has decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, there is limited information as to exactly which stage of the patient theater journey is causing this decreased efficiency and whether efficiency can be improved. In the trauma theater of Warrington Hospital, United Kingdom, we have attempted to maintain trauma theater efficiency despite the requirement for increased infection control.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of additional COVID-19 infection control protocols on trauma theater efficiency in our center, considering the length of time taken for specific theater events, and to find out whether our interventions were successful in maintaining theater efficiency.

METHODS

We compared the efficiency of the trauma theater in a busy unit in December 2019 (pre-COVID-19) and December 2020 (with COVID-19 protocols in place). We collected time logs for different theater events for each patient in December of both years and compared the data.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the average number of cases performed per session between the COVID-19 and pre-COVID-19 time periods (P=.17). Theater start time was significantly earlier during the COVID-19 period (P<.001). There was no significant difference between the two periods in transport time, check-in time, preprocedure time, anesthetic time, and the time between cases (P>.05). A significant difference was observed in the check-out time between the two groups in the two time periods, with checking out taking longer during the COVID-19 period (P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that our theater start times were earlier during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the overall theater efficiency was maintained despite the additional COVID-19 infection control protocols that were in place. These findings suggest that well-planned infection control protocols do not need to impede trauma theater efficiency in certain settings.

Questionnaire survey about the effects of new lifestyles during the pandemic of COVID-19 on upper limb diseases

BACKGROUND

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) that emerged in 2019 and spread globally in 2020 has resulted in the imposition of lockdowns or a state of emergency in many cities worldwide. In Japan, a "new lifestyle" is being advocated. We hypothesize that the new lifestyle has changed people's use of their upper limbs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, through this questionnaire study, we aimed to determine the factors associated with exacerbation of symptoms during the pandemic and to investigate the current status of patients who require hand surgery.

METHODS

This study was a prospective multi-center questionnaire survey. This study was conducted in Japan from December 2020 to July 2021 at university and general hospitals in nine prefectures. A questionnaire was administered to patients who visited a hospital with symptoms of nerve entrapment syndrome, osteoarthritis, or tenosynovitis.

RESULTS

A total of 502 patients with a mean age of 63.8 years responded. The 240 patients who experienced exacerbation (exacerbated and markedly exacerbated) were compared with other patients (unchanged, improved, and markedly improved). An increase in the time spent on personal computers and smartphones was associated with exacerbation of hand symptoms. Patients who wanted to undergo surgery but were postponed due to COVID-19 accounted for 23.5% of the outpatients. The mean scores for pain, jitteriness, and anxious depression in these patients were significantly higher than those of patients who did not want surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that an increase in the time spent on personal computers and smartphones is associated with exacerbation of hand symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients who wanted to undergo surgery but were postponed by COVID-19 experienced greater pain, jitteriness, and anxious depression.