Trends of Trauma Admissions in a Rural Trauma Center During Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

The spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) led to implementing strict social distancing mandates nationwide. This study evaluates the trauma trends during the pandemic at a rural level II trauma center in Pennsylvania.

A retrospective review of all trauma registries between 2018 and 2021 was performed overall and on a 6-month basis. Injury severity score, injury types-blunt versus penetrating, and mechanisms of injury were compared across the years.

A total of 3056 patients in 2018-2019 and 2506 patients in 2020-2021 were evaluated as the historic control and study group, respectively. The median age of the patients was 63 and 62 years in the control and the study group, respectively (P = 0.616). There was an overall significant decline in blunt injuries and an increase in penetrating injuries (Blunt: 2945 versus 2329, Penetrating: 89 versus 159, P < 0.001). Injury severity score was not different across the eras. Falls, motorcycle accidents, motor vehicle accidents, and all-terrain vehicles comprised most of the blunt traumas. Penetrating injuries secondary to assault with firearms and sharp weapons had an increasing trend.

There was no association between trauma numbers and the beginning of the pandemic. Overall, there was a decline in trauma numbers during the second 6 mo of the pandemic. There was an increase in injuries involving firearms and stabbing. Rural trauma centers have a unique demographic and admission trend that should be considered while advising regulatory changes during pandemics.