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COVID-19 and its effects upon orthopaedic surgery: The Trinidad and Tobago experience
Marlon Meredith Mencia1, Raakesh Goalan2
1Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Joseph 0000, Trinidad and Tobago. marlon.mencia@sta.uwi.edu.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted Trinidad and Tobago's healthcare, leading to a parallel system and varied effects on orthopaedic services. Public healthcare prioritized urgent cases, while private healthcare adapted to maintain elective surgeries.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Orthopaedic Surgery
Background:
- Trinidad and Tobago has prior experience with infectious disease outbreaks like Chikungunya and Zika.
- The COVID-19 pandemic posed a significant threat to healthcare systems, especially in developing nations.
- The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic in March 2020.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on orthopaedic services in Trinidad and Tobago.
- To compare the responses of public and private healthcare sectors to the pandemic.
- To examine the adaptations in medical education and professional development within orthopaedics.
Main Methods:
- Implementation of a parallel healthcare system for COVID-19 isolation and treatment.
- Adoption of public health measures including lockdowns, social distancing, and mask mandates.
- Comparative analysis of operational changes in public versus private orthopaedic services.
Main Results:
- The public healthcare system shifted to emergency mode due to resource constraints (PPE, testing).
- Private healthcare implemented safety measures to continue elective surgeries, driven by economic factors.
- Orthopaedic teaching transitioned to online platforms, and virtual meetings facilitated continuing education.
Conclusions:
- The COVID-19 pandemic has permanently transformed orthopaedic practice, necessitating adaptive strategies.
- Disparities in healthcare system responses highlight vulnerabilities and resilience in managing pandemics.
- The pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital tools in medical education and professional collaboration.
Abstract:
The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic on March 11, 2020. COVID-19 is not the first infectious disease to affect Trinidad and Tobago. The country has faced outbreaks of both Chikungunya and Zika virus in 2014 and 2016 respectively. The viral pandemic is predicted to have a significant impact upon all countries, but the healthcare services in a developing country are especially vulnerable. The Government of Trinidad and Tobago swiftly established a parallel healthcare system to isolate and treat suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19. Strick 'lockdown' orders, office closures, social distancing and face mask usage recommendation were implemented following advice from the WHO. This approach has seen Trinidad and Tobago emerge from the second wave of infections, with the most recent Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker report indicating a favourable risk of openness index for the country. The effects of the pandemic on the orthopaedic services in the public and private healthcare systems show significant differences. Constrained by shortages in personal protective equipment and inadequate testing facilities, the public system moved into emergency mode prioritizing the care of urgent and critical cases. Private healthcare driven more by economic considerations, quickly instituted widespread safety measures to ensure that the clinics remained open and elective surgery was not interrupted. Orthopaedic teaching at The University of the West Indies was quickly migrated to an online platform to facilitate both medical students and residents. The Caribbean Association of Orthopedic Surgeons through its frequent virtual meetings provided a forum for continuing education and social interaction amongst colleagues. The pandemic has disrupted our daily routines leading to unparalleled changes to our lives and livelihoods. Many of these changes will remain long after the pandemic is over, permanently transforming the practice of orthopaedics.