Massive cutback in orthopaedic healthcare services due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc
; 28(6): 1705-1711, 2020 Jun.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1826407
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
Due to the lack of evidence, it was the aim of the study to investigate current possible cutbacks in orthopaedic healthcare due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic (COVID-19).METHODS:
An online survey was performed of orthopaedic surgeons in the German-speaking Arthroscopy Society (Gesellschaft für Arthroskopie und Gelenkchirurgie, AGA). The survey consisted of 20 questions concerning four topics four questions addressed the origin and surgical experience of the participant, 12 questions dealt with potential cutbacks in orthopaedic healthcare and 4 questions addressed the influence of the pandemic on the particular surgeon.RESULTS:
Of 4234 contacted orthopaedic surgeons, 1399 responded. Regarding arthroscopic procedures between 10 and 30% of the participants stated that these were still being performed-with actual percentages depending on the specific joint and procedure. Only 6.2% of the participants stated that elective total joint arthroplasty was still being performed at their centre. In addition, physical rehabilitation and surgeons' postoperative follow-ups were severely affected.CONCLUSION:
Orthopaedic healthcare services in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland are suffering a drastic cutback due to COVID-19. A drastic reduction in arthroscopic procedures like rotator cuff repair and cruciate ligament reconstruction and an almost total shutdown of elective total joint arthroplasty were reported. Long-term consequences cannot be predicted yet. The described disruption in orthopaedic healthcare services has to be viewed as historic. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Orthopedics
/
Pneumonia, Viral
/
Elective Surgical Procedures
/
Coronavirus Infections
/
Orthopedic Procedures
/
Delivery of Health Care
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc
Journal subject:
Sports Medicine
/
Traumatology
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S00167-020-06032-2
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