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Published in: International Orthopaedics 8/2020

01-08-2020 | COVID-19 | Original Paper

Changes of clinical activities in an orthopaedic institute in North Italy during the spread of COVID-19 pandemic: a seven-week observational analysis

Authors: Luigi Zagra, Martina Faraldi, Fabrizio Pregliasco, Anna Vinci, Giovanni Lombardi, Immacolata Ottaiano, Riccardo Accetta, Paolo Perazzo, Rocco D’Apolito

Published in: International Orthopaedics | Issue 8/2020

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Abstract

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic is importantly affecting the orthopaedic practice all over the world with Northern Italy being the first European area that faced the worst scenario. In this study, the changes in clinical practice occurred in an orthopaedic center in Milan are described.

Methods

Number and type of admissions, outpatients cancelled and preserved, emergency room, and intensive care unit activities have been analyzed in the timeframe of seven weeks since the beginning of the pandemic (from February 24th to April 10th) and compared with the same period in 2019.

Results

The planned surgical admissions declined from 2172 in 2019 to 664 in 2020 (69.42%, p < 0.0001), while emergencies increased from 158 to 268 (69.62%). The rehabilitation admissions declined from 414 to 69 (83.33%). The overall admission decreased by 63.52%, the trend showed a drop in the last weeks. Surgery performed in the COVID-19 operating room increased by 16.7% in the last week. Seven deaths occurred (0.7% of all orthopaedics and trauma admissions) compared with four (0.1%) which happened in the same period in 2019 (p = 0.004). Six of these patients were suffering from COVID-19. A total of 23,580 outpatients (93.8%) were cancelled. Emergency room consultations declined by 68.14% and 63.47% among white and green priority, respectively, while increased by 25% and 100% among yellow and red, respectively.

Conclusion

These numbers show the radical changed scenario in an orthopaedic center in Milan during COVID-19 pandemic. Elective surgery declined rapidly going close to zero, outpatient admissions were restricted to cases that cannot be postponed, while emergencies increased due to the role played by the hospital as referral orthopaedic centre during the pandemic. The still ongoing emergency will have important impacts on the overall orthopaedic healthcare management for the next months.
Literature
Metadata
Title
Changes of clinical activities in an orthopaedic institute in North Italy during the spread of COVID-19 pandemic: a seven-week observational analysis
Authors
Luigi Zagra
Martina Faraldi
Fabrizio Pregliasco
Anna Vinci
Giovanni Lombardi
Immacolata Ottaiano
Riccardo Accetta
Paolo Perazzo
Rocco D’Apolito
Publication date
01-08-2020
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keyword
COVID-19
Published in
International Orthopaedics / Issue 8/2020
Print ISSN: 0341-2695
Electronic ISSN: 1432-5195
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-020-04590-1

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