Exercise-induced hypoxia among emergency department patients admitted for suspected COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Exercise-induced hypoxia (EIH) has been assessed at ED triage as part of an assessment of COVID-19; however, evidence supporting this practice is incomplete. We assessed the use of a 1-minute sit-to-stand exercise test among ED patients admitted for suspected COVID-19. METHODS: A case note review of all ED patients assessed for suspected COVID-19 between March and May 2020 at Monklands University Hospital was conducted. Demographic characteristics, clinical parameters, baseline blood tests and radiographic findings, hospital length of stay, intensive care and maximum oxygen requirement were obtained for those admitted. Using logistic regression, the association between EIH at admission triage and COVID-19 diagnosis was explored adjusting for confounding clinical parameters. RESULTS: Of 127 ED patients admitted for possible COVID-19, 37 were ultimately diagnosed with COVID-19. 36.4% of patients with COVID-19 and EIH had a normal admission chest radiograph. In multivariate analysis, EIH was an independent predictor of COVID-19 (adjusted OR 3.73 (95% CI (1.25 to 11.15)), as were lymphocyte count, self-reported exertional dyspnoea, C-reactive peptide and radiographic changes. CONCLUSIONS: This observational study demonstrates an association between EIH and a COVID-19 diagnosis. Over one-third of patients with COVID-19 and EIH exhibited no radiographic changes. EIH may represent an additional tool to help predict a COVID-19 diagnosis at initial presentation and may assist in triaging need for admission.

Cycling injuries requiring orthopaedic intervention during the first COVID-19 lockdown period: A multi-centre SCottish Orthopaedic Research collaborativE (SCORE) study.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 lockdown resulted in decreased vehicle use and an increased uptake in cycling. This study investigated the trends in cycling-related injuries requiring orthopaedic intervention during the COVID-19 lockdown period compared with similar time periods in 2018 and 2019. METHODS: Data were collected prospectively for patients in 2020 and collected retrospectively for 2019 and 2018, from hospitals within four NHS Scotland Health Boards encompassing three major trauma centres. All patients who sustained an injury as a result of cycling requiring orthopaedic intervention were included. Patient age, sex, mechanism of injury, diagnosis and treatment outcome from electronic patient records. RESULTS: Number of injuries requiring surgery 2020: 77 (mean age/years - 42.7); 2019: 47 (mean age/years - 42.7); 2018: 32 (mean age/years - 31.3). Overall incidence of cycling injuries 2020: 6.7%; 2019: 3.0%; 2018: 2.1%. Commonest mechanism of injury: fall from bike 2020 n = 54 (70.1%); 2019 n = 41 (65.1%); 2018 n = 25 (67.6%). Commonest injury type: fracture 2020 n = 68 (79.1%); 2019 n = 33 (70.2%); 2018 n = 20 (62.5%). Commonest areas affected: Upper extremity: 2020 n = 45 (58.5%); 2019 n = 25 (53.2%); 2018 n = 25 (78.1%). Lower extremity: 2020 n = 23 (29.9%); 2019 n = 14 (29.7%); 2018 n = 7 (21.8%). CONCLUSION: A significant increase in the number of cycling related injuries requiring orthopaedic intervention, a greater proportion of female cyclists and an older mean age of patients affected was observed during the COVID-19 lockdown period compared with previous years. The most common types of injury were fractures followed by lacerations and fracture-dislocations. The upper extremity was the commonest area affected.

Hip fracture care during the 2020 COVID-19 first-wave: a review of the outcomes of hip fracture patients at a Scottish Major Trauma Centre.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: This study reviewed whether the response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic affected the care for hip fracture patients at a major trauma centre in Scotland during the first-wave lock-down period. METHODS: All patients referred to Orthopaedics with a hip fracture in a major trauma centre in Scotland were captured between 14 th March and 28 th May (11 weeks) in 2020 and 2019. Patients were identified using electronic patient records. The primary outcomes are time to theatre, length of admission and 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes are COVID-19 prevalence, duration of surgery, proportion of patients to theatre within 36 hours and COVID-19 positive 30-day mortality from time of surgery. 225 patients were included: 108 from 2019 and 117 from 2020. THE MAIN FINDINGS: 30-day mortality was 3.7% (n=4) in 2019 and 8.5% (n=10) in 2020 (p=0.142). There was no statistical difference with time to theatre (p=0.150) nor duration of theatre (p=0.450). Duration of admission was reduced from 12 days to 6.5 days (p=<0.005). 4 patients tested positive for COVID-19 during admission, one 5 days after discharge, all underwent surgical management. 30-day mortality for COVID-19 positive patients during admission was 40%. COVID-19 prevalence of patients that were tested (n=89) was 5.62%. CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown the care of hip fracture patients has been maintained during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no statistically significant change in mortality, time to theatre, and duration of surgery, however, the patient's admission duration was significantly less than the 2019 cohort.

Effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on orthopaedic trauma: a multicentre study across Scotland.

AIMS: The UK government declared a national lockdown on 23 March 2020 to reduce transmission of COVID-19. This study aims to identify the effect of lockdown on the rates, types, mechanisms, and mortality of musculoskeletal trauma across Scotland. METHODS: Data for all musculoskeletal trauma requiring operative treatment were collected prospectively from five key orthopaedic units across Scotland during lockdown (23 March 2020 to 28 May 2020). This was compared with data for the same timeframe in 2019 and 2018. Data collected included all cases requiring surgery, injury type, mechanism of injury, and inpatient mortality. RESULTS: A total of 1,315 patients received operative treatment from 23 March 2020 to 28 May 2020 compared with 1,791 in 2019 and 1,719 in 2018. The numbers of all injury types decreased, but the relative frequency of hip fractures increased (36.3% in 2020 vs 30.2% in 2019, p < 0.0001 and 30.7% in 2018, p < 0.0001). Significant increases were seen in the proportion of DIY-related injuries (3.1% in 2020 vs 1.7% in 2019, p = 0.012 and 1.6% in 2018, p < 0.005) and injuries caused by falls (65.6% in 2020 vs 62.6% in 2019, p = 0.082 and 61.9% in 2018, p = 0.047). Significant decreases were seen in the proportion of road traffic collisions (2.6% in 2020 vs 5.4% in 2019, p < 0.0001 and 4.2% in 2018, p = 0.016), occupational injuries (1.8% in 2020 vs 3.0% in 2019, p = 0.025 and 2.3% in 2018, p = 0.012) and infections (6.8% in 2020 vs 7.8% in 2019, p = 0.268 and 10.3% in 2018, p < 0.012). Cycling injuries increased (78 in 2020 vs 64 in 2019 vs 42 in 2018). A significant increase in the proportion of self-harm injuries was seen (1.7% in 2020 vs 1.1% in 2019, p = 0.185 and 0.5% in 2018, p < 0.0001). Mortality of trauma patients was significantly higher in 2020 (5.0%) than in 2019 (2.8%, p = 0.002) and 2018 (1.8%, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The UK COVID-19 lockdown has resulted in a marked reduction in musculoskeletal trauma patients undergoing surgery in Scotland. There have been significant changes in types and mechanisms of injury and, concerningly, mortality of trauma patients has risen significantly.Cite this article: Bone Joint Open 2020;1-9:541-548.

Re-starting elective orthopaedic services in NHS Tayside during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Elective orthopaedic operations were suspended at the start of the COVID-19 lockdown. Three pathways were created to allow patients to undergo urgent elective operations in NHS Tayside as soon as it was deemed safe to do so. METHODS: We examined elective orthopaedic activity in NHS Tayside during and immediately after the Scottish lockdown. Elective operations performed between 27 March 2020 and 10 August 2020 were included and compared with cases performed between 27 March and 10 August in both 2018 and 2019. Primary outcomes were 30-day mortality, 30-day complications, and nosocomial infection rates of COVID-19. FINDINGS: Fewer elective operations were performed in 2020 (258) compared with 2019 (1196) and 2018 (1261). The rate of nosocomial infection in the 2020 cohort was 0%. The 30-day mortality rate was 0%. Over 98% of patients agreed to undergo surgery after a detailed consenting process. INTERPRETATION: We were able to re-start a safe elective orthopaedic service in the early stages of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, compatible with the guidelines set by the Royal College of Surgery of England and the British Orthopaedic Association. Our findings will serve to reassure regions with sufficient resources that it is acceptable to restart elective surgery for urgent priority cases. They may provide a template for planned surgical care in the event of further pandemics.

Sports balls as potential SARS-CoV-2 transmission vectors.

Objects passed from one player to another have not been assessed for their ability to transmit severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We found that the surface of sport balls, notably a football, tennis ball, golf ball, and cricket ball could not harbour inactivated virus when it was swabbed onto the surface, even for 30 â€‹s. However, when high concentrations of 5000 â€‹dC/mL and 10,000 â€‹dC/mL are directly pipetted onto the balls, it could be detected after for short time periods. Sports objects can only harbour inactivated SARS-CoV-2 under specific, directly transferred conditions, but wiping with a dry tissue or moist 'baby wipe' or dropping and rolling the balls removes all detectable viral traces. This has helpful implications to sporting events.