The hidden dangers of staying home: a London trauma unit experience of lockdown during the COVID-19 virus pandemic.
Ann R Coll Surg Engl
; 103(3): 160-166, 2021 Mar.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1110065
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in reconfiguration of the NHS. Elective services were stopped and trauma services focused on decreasing patient-clinician interactions and managing injuries nonoperatively wherever possible. The everyday life of the general public changed dramatically with the introduction of a national lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This paper looks at the experience of a South West London trauma unit. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
All patients reviewed in fracture clinic and by the orthopaedic on-call team between 23 March to 23 April 2020 were included. Data on the mechanism of injury and whether this was a usual activity, the injury sustained and its management were collected.RESULTS:
A total of 167 trauma injuries were seen, compared with 735 new patients with injuries in the previous month. The number of trauma operations completed decreased by 38%; 55% of injuries occurred inside the home and 44% outside the home during daily exercise. Some 31% of injuries were secondary to a new activity taken up during lockdown. Three open fractures and two polytrauma cases were seen that would have normally been managed at the local major trauma centre.CONCLUSION:
Overall, both the number of injuries seen and trauma operations completed during the enforced lockdown decreased. This is probably due to a change in the way the general public are living their lives, and the reconfigurations within the NHS in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an interesting time within trauma and orthopaedic departments, as they continue to adapt to the changing injuries and working environment.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Trauma Centers
/
Exercise
/
Accidents, Home
/
Fractures, Bone
Type of study:
Observational study
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
Ann R Coll Surg Engl
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Rcsann.2020.7066
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