690 Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery: Has the COVID Pandemic Affected Surgical Outcomes?

Abstract

Abstract Aim To compare the surgical outcomes following orthopaedic trauma surgery before and during the COVID pandemic in an adult Major Trauma Centre. Method A retrospective chart review was conducted for all patients undergoing orthopaedic trauma surgery before (01/12/2019 to 29/02/2020) and during (01/03/2020 to 10/06/2020) the COVID pandemic. A Chi-square test was used to compare frequencies of type of anaesthetic used, postoperative ITU admission, any surgical complications and mortality. Data was collected 90 days after surgery. Results During the pre-COVID period, 501 patients (mean age at surgery 64y 4m; 222 male (44%)) underwent orthopaedic trauma surgery (395 lower limb (79%); 86 upper limb (17%); 28 pelvis (6%)) compared to 474 patients (mean age at surgery 61y 8m; 219 male (48%)) during the COVID period (388 lower limb (82%); 58 upper limb (12%); 23 pelvis (5%)). There was a significant increase in the use of a spinal as the main anaesthetic during the pandemic (9 (2%) vs 115 (24%), p < 0.001) and fewer trauma patients were admitted to ITU postoperatively (42 (8%) vs 16 (3%), p0.001). There was no difference in the rate of postoperative complications (103 (21%) vs 95 (20%), p0.841) or mortality at 90 days (42 (8%) vs 43 (9%), p0.703). Of the 244 COVID swabs done during the COVID period, 8 (3%) were positive. Conclusions Despite widespread operational disruption and a change in anaesthetic practice, there was no change in the rate of postoperative complications or mortality following orthopaedic trauma surgery.