Effects of Social Distancing Due to COVID 19 on Trauma Admissions To a US Level I Trauma Center

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION The number and types of trauma cases admitted to an emergency department (ED) affected by many factors (size of the city, location, season, etc.). During times of disasters or war, the number of cases and patterns may differ. We present the demographics of trauma cases admitted to a US level I trauma center before and after the implementation of social distancing guidelines (March 16, 2020) due to the COVID 19 pandemic. METHODS We reviewed all the cases admitted to our level I trauma hospital ED for the period January- mid April 2020. We generated a battery of descriptive statistics to show the trends of case numbers and types over this period. RESULTS A total of 944 cases for the period of Jan-mid Apr 2020, Average age 49 years, with 62% males and 78% whites. The total number of cases was comparable in January and February (262, 261). In March and mid-March to mid-April there was an increase in total number of cases (281, 274), especially during afternoon and evening hours. During the period January- mid April there was a decline in number of cases of motor vehicle accidents (89, 87, 80, 72) and falls (87, 77, 76, 60). There was an increase in motorcycle accidents (6,3,10,16), hanging (0,0,3,3), and gunshot wounds (23, 18, 36, 37). CONCLUSION Trauma admissions to ED affected by several factors, but overall the patterns are stable over time. For the period of January- mid April 2020, the institution of social distancing due to the COVID 19 pandemics did affect the number and types of trauma cases admitted to a level I trauma center.