Work characteristics of orthopaedic surgeons during the COVID-19 pandemic: A single center analysis

Abstract

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in widespread cancellation of elective orthopaedic surgeries. During the pandemic period, many orthopaedic surgeons had been working at the front line to fight against COVID-19 in China, and the number of orthopaedic surgeries performed in our hospital decreased sharply. MethodsThe work characteristics of orthopaedic surgeons was evaluated by the workplaces of orthopaedic surgeons, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection rate of orthopaedic surgeons and the number of orthopaedic surgeries performed. January 23–April 7 in 2020, January 23–April 8 in 2019, and April 8–June 22 in 2020 was defined as the pandemic period, non-pandemic period and post-pandemic period, respectively. The number and types of orthopaedic surgeons during the pandemic period, non-pandemic period, and post-pandemic period was compared and summarized. ResultsDuring the pandemic period, 65.56% of the orthopaedic surgeons had been working at the front line to fight against COVID-19. The SARS-CoV-2 infection rate of the orthopaedic surgeons who worked at the front line in January and since February was 18.18% and 0.00%, respectively (P=0.003). The number of orthopaedic surgeries performed per day during the pandemic period decreased 95.74% compared with the same period in the past year (P<0.001). The number of orthopaedic surgeries performed during the post-pandemic period was 13.10 times that of the pandemic period (P<0.001), and 55.71% of the non-pandemic period (P<0.001). ConclusionsThe work characteristics of orthopaedic surgeons greatly changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.