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Toia F, Romeo M, Abate M, Avarotti E, Battiston B, Bruno G, Cannavò F F, Casamichele C, Colonna M, Catena N, Cherubino M, Coppolino S, Galvano N, Giuca G, Gullo S, Internullo G, Lazzerini A, Marcoccio I, Maruccia M, Melloni C, Pajardi G, Pugliese P, Risitano G, Spata G, Tripoli M, Troisi L, Tos P, Cordova A. Impact of COVID-19 on hand surgery in Italy: A comparison between the Northern and the Southern regions. Hand Surg Rehabil 2020; 40:139-144. [PMID: 33309793 PMCID: PMC7836699 DOI: 10.1016/j.hansur.2020.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The aims of this study were to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency and elective hand surgery in four Italian regions that had either a high (Lombardy and Piemonte) or a low (Sicilia and Puglia) COVID-19 case load to discuss problems and to elaborate strategies to improve treatment pathways. A panel of hand surgeons from these different regions compared and discussed data from the centers they work in. The COVID-19 pandemic had an enormous impact on both elective and emergency surgery in Italy, not only in highly affected regions but also – and paradoxically even at a higher extent – in regions with a low COVID-19 case load. A durable and flexible redesign of hand surgery activities should be promoted, while changing and hopefully increasing human resources and enhancing administrative support. Telematics must also be implemented, especially for delivering rehabilitation therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Toia
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgical Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, Via Del Vespro 127, 90127, Palermo (PA), Italy.
| | - M Romeo
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgical Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, Via Del Vespro 127, 90127, Palermo (PA), Italy
| | - M Abate
- SSD di Ortopedia, ARNAS Garibaldi, Presidio di Nesima, Via Palermo 636, 95123, Catania (CT), Italy
| | - E Avarotti
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, A.R.N.A.S. Piazza Santa Maria di Gesù 5, 95124, Catania (CT), Italy
| | - B Battiston
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Orthopedic and Trauma Center, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza, Via Nizza 138, 10126, Torino (TO), Italy
| | - G Bruno
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, A.O. Vittorio Emanuele, Via Plebiscito 632, 95122, Catania (CT), Italy
| | - F Cannavò F
- U.O.S.D. Plastic Surgery A.O. Papardo, Contrada Papardo, 98158, Messina (ME), Italy
| | - C Casamichele
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, A.O. "G. Paolo II", Contrada Cisternazzi, 97010, Ragusa (RG), Italy
| | - M Colonna
- Plastic Surgery Unit, Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria1, 98124, Messina (ME), Italy
| | - N Catena
- Pediatric Orthopedic and Traumatology Unit, Children's Hospital, AON SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Via Spalto Marengo 46, 15121, Alessandria (AL), Italy
| | - M Cherubino
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Insubria, Via Ravasi 2, 21100, Varese (VA), Italy
| | - S Coppolino
- Hospital S. Vincenzo, Contrada Sirina, 98039, Taormina (ME), Italy
| | - N Galvano
- Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology A.O.U.P." Paolo Giaccone", Via Del Vespro 127, 90127 Palermo (PA), Italy
| | - G Giuca
- Department of Orthopedics Ospedale Maggiore, Via Resistenza Partigiana, 97015, Modica (RG), Italy
| | - S Gullo
- Department of Hand Surgery and Traumatology, A.R.N.A.S., Piazza Nicola Leotta 4, 90127, Palermo (PA), Italy
| | - G Internullo
- Department of Orthopedics, Ospedale Gravina, Via Portosalvo 9, 95041, Caltagirone (CT), Italy
| | - A Lazzerini
- Hand Surgery and Microsurgery Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Clinical Institute, Via Alessandro Manzoni 6, 20089, Milano (MI), Italy
| | - I Marcoccio
- Orthopedic Microsurgery and Upper Limb Surgery, Istituto Clinico Città di Brescia, Via Bartolomeo Gualla 15, 25128, Brescia (BS), Italy
| | - M Maruccia
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Burns Unit, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70122, Bari (BR), Italy
| | - C Melloni
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery A.O. P. Borsellino, Contrada Cardilla 1, 91025, Marsala (TP), Italy
| | - G Pajardi
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, The University of Milan, Via Festa del Perdono 7, 20122, Milano (MI), Italy
| | - P Pugliese
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgical Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, Via Del Vespro 127, 90127, Palermo (PA), Italy
| | - G Risitano
- ABC Medical, Via Porto Salvo 2, 98121, Messina (ME), Italy
| | - G Spata
- Hand Surgery, Polyclinic Morgagni, Via del Bosco 105, 95030, Catania (CT), Italy
| | - M Tripoli
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgical Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, Via Del Vespro 127, 90127, Palermo (PA), Italy
| | - L Troisi
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, The University of Milan, Via Festa del Perdono 7, 20122, Milano (MI), Italy
| | - P Tos
- Hand Surgery and Reconstructive Microsurgery Unit, Orthopedic Institute G. Pini-CTO, Piazza Cardinale Andrea Ferrari 1, 20122, Milano (MI), Italy
| | - A Cordova
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgical Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, Via Del Vespro 127, 90127, Palermo (PA), Italy
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