Effect of Statewide Social Distancing and Stay-At-Home Directives on Orthopaedic Trauma at a Southwestern Level 1 Trauma Center During the COVID-19 Pandemic

J Orthop Trauma. 2020 Sep;34(9):e343-e348. doi: 10.1097/BOT.0000000000001890.

Abstract

Objectives: To compare orthopaedic trauma volume and mechanism of injury before and during statewide social distancing and stay-at-home directives.

Design: Retrospective.

Setting: Level 1 trauma center.

Patients/participants: One thousand one hundred thirteen patients sustaining orthopaedic trauma injuries between March 17 and April 30 of years 2018, 2019, and 2020.

Intervention: Statewide social distancing and stay-at-home directives.

Main outcome measurements: Number of consults, mechanism of injury frequency, and type of injury frequency.

Results: During the COVID-19 pandemic, orthopaedic trauma consult number decreased. Injuries due to gunshot wounds increased and those due to automobile versus pedestrian accidents decreased. Time-to-presentation increased and length of stay decreased. Operative consults remained unchanged.

Conclusions: Orthopaedic trauma injuries continued to occur during the COVID-19 pandemic at an overall decreased rate, however, with a different distribution in mechanism and type of injury.

Level of evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls / statistics & numerical data
  • Accidents, Traffic / statistics & numerical data
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Betacoronavirus*
  • COVID-19
  • Communicable Disease Control*
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control*
  • Female
  • Fractures, Bone / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics / prevention & control*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Social Isolation*
  • Trauma Centers*
  • Young Adult