Enfermedad por Coronavirus - 2019 (COVID-19) y Traumatología: Revisión de la literatura / Coronavirus Disease - 2019 (COVID-19) and Traumatology: Review of Literature

ABSTRACT

The Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) triggered a global health emergency, and as a response, institutions and medical services have implemented different measures regarding the management of these patients in order to maintain medical care, and reduce the spread of the virus in patients and medical staff. The following review aims to present the current recommendations made by international, national and local societies regarding medical action from Traumatology and Orthopaedics. A literature review was done on Medline / Pubmed platforms, The Journal Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS), Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (JAAOS), Sociedad Chilena de Ortopedia y Traumatología (SCHOT). The literature was in Spanish and English, comparing it with reality on a local level. The current COVID-19 pandemic led to the complete reform of the trauma care units, starting with the development of subspecialty teams that rotate periodically, which are in charge of the emergency area, treating patients with all personal protection elements (PPE) and categorizing those patients who require emergency trauma surgery, from those that can be managed in a delayed manner. Regarding patients who are hospitalized, a COVID-19 PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test is taken as screening, except for emergency surgeries where all intraoperative protection measures are taken. In addition, for greater safety, all elective surgery was suspended, which reduces the flow of patients in the ward and in the inpatient unit. Outpatient care was optimized in order to protect patients in their periodic check-ups.