The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery in a District General Hospital in the United Kingdom.

Abstract

Introduction The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic led to a national lockdown and a major reorganization of healthcare services in the United Kingdom. The center where the study was done was one of the worst affected hospitals in the United Kingdom at the outset of the pandemic. Our study evaluates the impact of the pandemic and national lockdown on the outcomes for patients undergoing orthopedic trauma surgery. Methods We prospectively identified all patients undergoing orthopedic trauma surgery in the unit from 1st March 2020 to 31st May 2020. We recorded demographics, diagnoses, COVID-19 infection status, length of stay, and mortality. This was compared with a comparative group in the same period in 2018 and 2019. Results There was a significant reduction in the number of orthopedic trauma surgery cases (318) performed in 2020 compared to 2019 (423 cases, p<0.001) and 2018 (444 cases, p<0.001). The mean time from injury to presentation was 3.6 days, with 40 patients (12.6%) presenting more than one week after injury. The 30-day mortality was 8.2%, and the six-month mortality was 15.1%, with both significantly higher than in 2018 (p<0.001) and 2019 (p<0.001). COVID-19 testing was positive in 39% of patients, with 30-day mortality in this group at 37%, rising to a 53% six-month mortality. No patients under the age of 50 years old died. The majority of admissions (51%) were due to falls at home. The second most common mechanism was Do-It-Yourself (DIY) injuries. Road traffic accidents accounted for 2%. Conclusion There were significantly fewer cases of orthopedic trauma surgery during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the same period in previous years. The type of trauma also showed low numbers of high-energy and sporting injuries as a result of the national lockdown. Patients undergoing orthopedic trauma surgery who tested positive for COVID-19 had significantly higher 30-day mortality than those without COVID-19, and this increased mortality persisted to six months post-operatively. However, patients under 50 years old appear to be at low risk of death.