The Italian Covid-19 Phase 2 in Piacenza: results of the first semester of 2020 and future prospective of new orthopedics surgical procedures.

INTRODUCTION: During the pandemic, Piacenza's Orthopedic and Traumatology Dep. firstly dealt with the emergency with the complete closure of all the elective surgical and outpatient activities.As general population, also healthcare workers were affected by Coronavirus, increasing difficulties of epidemic management.The aim of our study is to evaluate the activity trend of the first 6months of 2020 in our hospital.Data will be compared to the two semesters of 2019, in order to have two objective samples. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all the orthopedics surgical procedures performed at Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital (Piacenza, Emilia Romagna, Northern Italy)between 1/1/20 and 30/06/20. 2019 semesters (1/01/20-30/6/20 and 1/07/20-31/12/20) have been used as control group to evaluate the activity trend of the first six months of 2020, compared to the two semesters of 2019. RESULTS: We noticed a significant increase of domestic and retirement houses accidents, a consistent increase in one-month mortality rate of 2020 first semester and a decrease of mean hospitalization time.About surgical procedures, we detect a drop in the total number: in the first semester of 2020 we performed 499 (-39.9%) surgeries less than the first semester of 2019 and 337 (-30.9%) then the second one. Traumatology recorded a decrease of 27.6% than the first semester of 2019 (-204 surgeries) and of 26.3% than the second one (-191 surgeries).Concerning orthopedic procedures, in comparison to the first semester of 2019 we registered a reduction of 57.6% (-295 surgeries) and of 40.2% to the second semester (-146 surgeries). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Covid-19 forced a reorganization of the Italian Health System that led to a clear reduction of surgical procedures performed in the orthopedic and traumatology department.The "Phase 2" can't be consider the last step of the emergency.We surely will have to get used to live with this enemy, at least until we will find an effective cure or a vaccine.

A preliminary experience with a new intramedullary nail for trochanteric fractures.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE WORK: The worldwide incidence of fractures of the proximal end of the femur is increasing as the average age of the population rises. The current surgical gold treatment standard is intramedullary nail fixation. The Authors present their experience with the D-Nail system for intertrochanteric femur fractures. METHODS: From January 1st to February 21st 2020 (breakout of COVID-19 pandemic) 34 patients were treated with the D-Nail system: 11 with basicervical fractures, 16 with intertrochanteric stable fractures and 7 with intertrochanteric unstable fractures. In 11 cases, a single cephalic screw was used; in 23 cases, two of them were used. Distal locking was executed in 7 patients. Follow-up time ranged from 2 to 3 months. RESULTS: None of the reported intra- or post-operative complication was linked to the fixation device or the surgical technique. Patients were monitored with clinical and radiological checkups using modified Harris Hip Score to accurately evaluate the fluctuations in the rehabilitation period. CONCLUSION: The main advantages of this synthesis device are the proximal hole's peculiar shape, which allows the possibility to position one or two cephalic screws on the same nail, and the silicon coating, which provides numerous biological advantages. Distal locking was executed in selected cases only, based on fracture type. Optimum treatment involves rapid execution of surgery, minimal trauma during surgery, maximum mechanical stability, and rapid weight-bearing. Although our case number is small and follow-up time brief, our results are encouraging.