Orthopaedic and trauma surgery in the time of COVID-19 in France: A nationwide survey.

INTRODUCTION: The year 2020 was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic. The entire French health system was mobilized. Surgical services were asked to reschedule all elective procedures. We wondered about the impact of this pandemic on French orthopaedic surgeons. The main objective of this survey was to assess the impact of COVID-19 on emergency and non-emergency orthopaedic surgical activities. The secondary objectives were: to report how orthopaedic surgeons had mobilized and reorganized, and to assess the physical and psychological consequences on their state of health. HYPOTHESIS: The COVID-19 epidemic has led to the suspension of all elective orthopaedic surgeries and has also led to changes in the management of urgent surgeries and traumatology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This descriptive epidemiological study was conducted in France. A 40-question survey was sent to all French orthopaedic surgeons (senior surgeons and residents) via the mailing lists of the French Society of Orthopaedic and Traumatological Surgery (SoFCOT), the French Society of Pediatric Orthopaedics (SoFOP) and the College of Young Orthopedists (CJO). RESULTS: Over a period of one month, 1098 surgeons; 852 senior surgeons and 246 residents, answered the questionnaire. The complete cessation of all elective interventions was effective in 80% of cases. Urgent and semi-urgent interventions were maintained. Three hundred and twenty-six surgeons (30%) modified their trauma management, among them 55% came from the regions most affected by the pandemic. Sixty percent of surgeons did not receive training to take care of COVID+ patients and 40% took care of these patients. Among the orthopaedic surgeons surveyed, 28% were redeployed to medical services. Teleconsultation was used by 41% of surgeons. Twenty-six (2%) surgeons tested positive for COVID-19 and 54% showed at least one sign of psychological suffering. CONCLUSION: French orthopaedic surgeons reorganized and changed their practices quickly and efficiently to deal with the pandemic. However, progress remains to be seen with training of orthopaedic surgeons in the care of COVID+ patients, as well as to democratize the use of telemedicine. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Impact de la CoVID-19 sur la chirurgie orthopédique et traumatologique en France: Une enquête épidémiologique nationale Orthopaedic and trauma surgery in the time of COVID-19 in France: A nationwide survey

Introduction : L’année 2020 a été marquée par la pandémie liée au CoVID-19. L’ensemble du système de santé français s’est mobilisé. Il a été demandé aux services de chirurgie de déprogrammer toutes les interventions non urgentes. Nous nous sommes interrogés sur le retentissement de cette pandémie sur les chirurgiens orthopédistes français. L’objectif principal de cette enquête était d’évaluer l’impact du Covid-19 sur les activités de chirurgie orthopédique urgentes et non urgentes. Les objectifs secondaires étaient : de rapporter la façon dont les chirurgiens orthopédistes s’étaient mobilisés et réorganisés et d’évaluer les conséquences physiques et psychologiques sur leur état de santé. Hypothèse L’épidémie de CoVID-19 a entrainé la suspension de toute l’activité chirurgicale orthopédique non urgente et des modifications dans la prise en charge des chirurgies urgentes et de la traumatologie. Matériel et méthodes : Une étude épidémiologique descriptive a été menée en France. Un questionnaire de 40 questions a été envoyé à l’ensemble des chirurgiens orthopédistes français (seniors et internes) via les listes de diffusion de la Société Française de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Traumatologique (SoFCOT), de la Société Française d’Orthopédie Pédiatrique (SoFOP) et du Collège des Jeunes Orthopédistes (CJO) Résultats : Sur une période d’un mois, 1098 chirurgiens, 852 chirurgiens seniors et 246 internes, ont répondu au questionnaire. L’arrêt complet de toutes les interventions non urgentes a été effectif dans 80% des cas. Les interventions urgentes et semi-urgentes ont été maintenues. Trois cent vingt-six chirurgiens (30%) ont modifié leur prise en charge de la traumatologie, parmi eux 55% provenaient des régions les plus touchées par la pandémie. 60% des chirurgiens n’ont pas bénéficié de formation pour en prendre en charge les patients CoVID + et 40% ont pris en charge ce type de patients. Parmi les orthopédistes interrogés, 28% ont été redéployés dans des services de médecine. La téléconsultation a été utilisée par 41% des chirurgiens. Vingt-six (2%) chirurgiens ont été testés positifs au CoVID et 54% présentaient au moins un signe de souffrance psychologique. Conclusion : Les chirurgiens orthopédistes français se sont réorganisés et ont modifié leurs pratiques rapidement et efficacement pour faire face à la crise sanitaire. Des progrès restent toutefois à faire au regard de la formation des orthopédistes pour prendre en charge des patients CoVID + ainsi que pour démocratiser l’usage de la télémédecine. Niveau de preuve : IV

Orthopaedic and trauma surgery in the time of COVID-19 in France: A nationwide survey

Introduction: The year 2020 was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic. The entire French health system was mobilized. Surgical services were asked to reschedule all elective procedures. We wondered about the impact of this pandemic on French orthopaedic surgeons. The main objective of this survey was to assess the impact of COVID-19 on emergency and non-emergency orthopaedic surgical activities. The secondary objectives were: to report how orthopaedic surgeons had mobilized and reorganized, and to assess the physical and psychological consequences on their state of health. Hypothesis: The COVID-19 epidemic has led to the suspension of all elective orthopaedic surgeries and has also led to changes in the management of urgent surgeries and traumatology. Material and methods: This descriptive epidemiological study was conducted in France. A 40-question survey was sent to all French orthopaedic surgeons (senior surgeons and residents) via the mailing lists of the French Society of Orthopaedic and Traumatological Surgery (SoFCOT), the French Society of Pediatric Orthopaedics (SoFOP) and the College of Young Orthopedists (CJO). Results: Over a period of one month, 1098 surgeons;852 senior surgeons and 246 residents, answered the questionnaire. The complete cessation of all elective interventions was effective in 80% of cases. Urgent and semi-urgent interventions were maintained. Three hundred and twenty-six surgeons (30%) modified their trauma management, among them 55% came from the regions most affected by the pandemic. Sixty percent of surgeons did not receive training to take care of COVID+ patients and 40% took care of these patients. Among the orthopaedic surgeons surveyed, 28% were redeployed to medical services. Teleconsultation was used by 41% of surgeons. Twenty-six (2%) surgeons tested positive for COVID-19 and 54% showed at least one sign of psychological suffering. Conclusion: French orthopaedic surgeons reorganized and changed their practices quickly and efficiently to deal with the pandemic. However, progress remains to be seen with training of orthopaedic surgeons in the care of COVID+ patients, as well as to democratize the use of telemedicine. Level of evidence: IV