Orthopaedic trauma care during a pandemic: initial responses in the United States and Canada

As in other countries, COVID-19 had a significant impact on the delivery of Orthopaedic trauma care in North America. Both Canada and the United States had similar experiences and responses to the pandemic, while the burden of disease was significantly greater in the United States. There was significant uncertainty in the early phases of the pandemic, fueled by a lack of knowledge of the pathophysiology and spread of COVID-19, questions surrounding screening protocols, lack of guidelines for managing infected patients, and concern over limited supplies of personal protective equipment. As we gained knowledge and experience, changes were implemented to optimize the delivery of trauma care, some of which may have lasting effects. In this article, we share the experiences and lessons learned in Canada and the United States in response to the pandemic.