Lasting Shifts in Musculoskeletal Injuries Across Pre-, During-, and Post-Pandemic Periods: A Propensity...

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic surgery
• Trauma care
• Public health emergencies

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic overwhelmed global healthcare systems.
• Disruptions led to disparities in healthcare access and altered emergency department injury patterns.
• This study compares trauma patient profiles and treatment pre-, during-, and post-pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare patient demographics, comorbidities, and injury circumstances before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To analyze changes in treatment strategies and patient outcomes in orthopaedic and traumatology departments.
• To identify lasting effects of the pandemic on trauma care.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective observational study of 8413 patients admitted to an orthopaedic and traumatology department.
• Propensity score matching (1:2) used for balanced comparisons between pandemic/post-pandemic and pre-pandemic groups.
• Data collected included demographics, comorbidities, injury circumstances, treatment, and outcomes.

Main Results:

• Increased same-region re-injuries, higher medical leave, and longer hospital stays (>10 days) were observed during and after the pandemic.
• Injury patterns shifted, with more lower leg injuries and fewer wrist injuries during the pandemic.
• Fewer open wounds and a trend towards more conservative treatment were noted during the pandemic.

Conclusions:

• The pandemic and post-pandemic eras saw significant shifts in trauma care, characterized by conservative management, reduced surgeries, and prolonged hospital stays.
• Increased re-injuries and decreased sports-related injuries coincided with lockdown periods and persisted post-pandemic.
• Observed differences highlight the sustained impact of the pandemic on trauma care patterns.