Background Impairment of coagulation parameters and increased rate of thromboembolism are known complications of COVID-19 infection. In this study the coagulation profile and rate of thromboembolic events between two groups of patients who underwent spinal surgery before and after the COVID-19 pandemic was compared. Patients and method Clinically and laboratory negative for COVID-19 elective patients before (n: 211) and during COVID-19 pandemic (n: 294) with spinal surgeries were included in this retrospective study. Surgical characteristics, Physiologic parameters, coagulation parameters and thromboembolic events were compared between the two study groups. Results Preoperative coagulation parameters, including PT, PTT, and INR were significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic (P < 0.001. P = 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively), while the platelet count was significantly reduced (P = 0.04). The same differences were observed between the two study groups after the spinal surgery. In addition, respiratory rate and postoperative bleeding of the first postoperative 24 h was significantly more in patients who were operated on during COVID-19 outbreak (P = 0.03 and P = 0.002, respectively). The rate of thromboembolic events was 3.1% during the COVID-19 pandemic (seven PE, one DVT, and one MI) and 0% before that. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.043). ConclusionThe rate of thromboembolic events seems to be increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings urge more stringent monitoring of the patients' coagulation parameters during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Ganglion cysts of the dorsal wrist are generally attached to the scapholunate interosseous ligament, and surgical removal could injure this ligament. Such injury could rarely result in postoperative scapholunate instability. To date, a few cases of scapholunate instability following the excision of the dorsal ganglion cyst of the wrist have been reported. In this report, we present a 23-year-old man with scapholunate instability following the surgical resection of the dorsal ganglion cyst of his wrist. The instability was treated with open reduction and reconstruction. One year follow-up of the patient was event-free. The patient had no pain and limitation and resumed his preoperative activities. According to this case, the iatrogenic or pre-existing nature of scapholunate instability following the surgical excision of the dorsal ganglion cyst of the wrist‎‏ cannot be determined. However, the patients should be informed of this complication before undergoing surgery.