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
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Ryan J Lubbe1, Jordan Miller1, Casey A Roehr1
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Medicine, Las Vegas, NV; and.
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.
