A seven week observational analysis of clinical activities in a North Italian orthopaedic hospital during the second wave of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: far from usual volumes, but different from the first wave.
Int Orthop
; 45(10): 2473-2482, 2021 10.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1226213
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
We previously described the radical changes occurred in an orthopaedic hospital in Milan (Italy) during the first SARS-CoV-2 pandemic outbreak. Currently, during the second wave, the situation is still far from normality. Here we describe the changes that took place, and are still ongoing, in the clinical practice.METHODS:
Number and type of admissions, outpatients activity, ER and urgent procedures in SARS-CoV-2 negative and positive patients have been analyzed over seven weeks (October 26th-December 13th, 2020) and compared with the correspondent period in 2019 and the same timeframe during the first wave (February 24th-April 10th).RESULTS:
2019 vs. 2020 Overall admissions decreased by 39.8%; however, while admissions for elective surgery dropped by 42.0%, urgent surgeries increased by 117.0%. Rehabilitation admissions declined by 85.2%. White and green priority ER consultations declined by 41.6% and 52.0%, respectively; yellow and red increased by 766.7% and 400.0%, respectively. Second vs. first wave Overall admissions increased by 58.6% with a smoother decrement in weekly admissions than during the first wave. Disparity of acute admissions vs. rehabilitation expanded Acute cases increased by 63.6% while rehabilitation cases decreased by 8.7%. Admissions to triage procedures increased by 72.3%.CONCLUSIONS:
Activity levels are far from normality during the second COVID-19 wave. Elective surgery and outpatients-related activities are still strongly limited compared to 2019 while the number of urgent cases treated increased consistently. SARS-CoV-2 positive emergencies are slightly higher than during the first wave. These important changes are expected to impact on health service and hospital budget for long.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Orthopedics
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
Int Orthop
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S00264-021-05064-8
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS