Impact of Coronavirus Disease-2019 on Orthopedic and Trauma Cases at Sina Hospital, Tehran, Iran: An Experience from a Tertiary Trauma Center

Abstract

Background: The recent outbreak of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) in China has rapidly spread throughout the world and significantly affected orthopedic and trauma cases all over the world. This study aims to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on orthopedic and trauma cases at Sina Hospital, Tehran, Iran.

Methods: The study was conducted using the database of Orthopedics Department at Sina Hospital. It consisted of data before four and after four months of the COVID-19 outbreak. The demographic data of the patients with orthopedic problems and trauma, including sex, age, and type and mechanism of trauma was studied.

Results: In total, data of 1033 patients was studied, including 597 and 436 patients before and after the COVID-19 outbreak, respectively. In this period of time, the potion of patients with laceration and upper limb injuries increased significantly (P = 0.007 and P = 0.002, respectively). Additionally, the proportion of low energy trauma and high energy trauma respectively increased and decreased (P = 0.055).

Conclusion: Because of the outbreak and consequent lockdown in many countries, cases of orthopedics and trauma very significantly reduced. This resulted in less workload on orthopedic surgeons and residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Decreases in trauma cases and road traffic accidents were also reported by most centers around world.