Lessons Learnt from Managing Orthopaedic Trauma During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic at a UK District General Hospital.
Indian J Orthop
; 55(4): 1037-1045, 2021 Aug.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34024932
ABSTRACT
Background:
The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has contributed to over 1,000,000 deaths worldwide. Hospitals responded by expanding services to accommodate the forecasted rise in COVID-19-related admissions. We describe the effects these changes had on management of orthopaedic trauma and patient outcomes at a district general hospital in Southern England.Methods:
Data were extrapolated retrospectively from two separate 6-week periods in 2019 and 2020 (1st April-13th May) using electronic records of patients referred to the orthopaedic team. Soft tissue injuries were included where a confirmed diagnosis was made with radiological evidence. Patients were excluded if no orthopaedic intervention was required. Data were compared between the two time periods.Results:
There were fewer attendances to hospital in 2020 compared with 2019 (178 vs. 328), but time from presentation to surgery significantly increased in 2020 (2.94 days vs. 4.91 days, p = 0.009). There were fewer operative complications in 2020 (36/145 vs. 11/88, p < 0.001). However, ordinal logistic regression analysis found a significantly greater complication severity in 2020 including death (p = 0.039). Complication severity was unrelated to COVID-19 status.Conclusions:
Restructuring of orthopaedic services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with significant delays to surgery and higher post-operative complication severity. Our results demonstrate the need for fast-track emergency operative orthopaedic services in UK district general hospitals whilst the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Indian J Orthop
Año:
2021
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Reino Unido