Lessons learnt from managing orthopaedic trauma during the first wave of the CIVID-19 pandemic at a uk district general hospital
British Journal of Surgery
; 108(SUPPL 6):vi251, 2021.
Article
in English
| EMBASE | ID: covidwho-1569643
ABSTRACT
Background:
The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has contributed to over 900,000 deaths worldwide. Hospitals responded by expanding services to accommodate the forecasted rise in COVID-19- related admissions. We describe the effects these changes had on management of orthopaedic trauma and patient outcomes at a district general hospital in Southern England.Method:
Data were extrapolated retrospectively from two separate sixweek periods in 2019 and 2020 (1st April - 13th May) using electronic records of patients referred to the orthopaedic team. Soft tissue injuries were included where a confirmed diagnosis was made with radiological evidence. Patients were excluded if no orthopaedic intervention was required. Data were compared between the two time periods.Results:
There were fewer attendances to hospital in 2020 compared with 2019 (178 vs 328), but time from presentation to surgery significantly increased in 2020 (2.94 days vs 4.91 days, p=0.009). There were fewer operative complications in 2020 (36/145 vs 11/88, p<0.001). However, ordinal logistic regression analysis found a significantly greater complication severity in 2020 including death (p=0.039). Complication severity was unrelated to COVID-19 status.Conclusions:
Restructuring of orthopaedic services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with significant delays to surgery and higher post-operative complication severity. Our results demonstrate the need for fast-track emergency operative orthopaedic services in UK district general hospitals whilst the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
EMBASE
Language:
English
Journal:
British Journal of Surgery
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
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