Were protective procedures against SARS-CoV-2 effective in an orthopaedic and trauma centre during the lockdown period? A retrospective study

Abstract

Purpose The SARS-CoV-2 epidemic started in December 2019 in Wuhan. The lockdown was declared on March 16, 2020 in France. Our centre had to adapt daily practices to continue to take care of bone and soft tissue tumours and emergencies. Through this study, we wanted to assess the various procedures implemented during the lockdown period between March 17 and May 10. Methods A monocentric retrospective cohort study was conducted in Cochin Hospital (Paris, France). Patients included were those who had surgery during the lockdown period. To take care of COVID-19 positive and negative patients, various procedures have been set up: reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests for all hospitalized patients, a specific unit for COVID-positive patients, a specific surgical room, and use of protective personal equipment. To allow the effectiveness of the procedures implemented, we evaluated the number of complications attributed to SARS-CoV-2 and the number of patients who became COVID positive during hospitalization. Results During the lockdown period, there were 199 procedures of three types of procedures in our centre: 79 traumatology procedures (39.7%), 76 of bone and soft tissues tumours (38.2%), and 44 procedures related to infection (22.1%). We observed 13 complications (6.5%) during hospitalization, and only one patient became COVID-19 positive during the hospitalization. Conclusion The COVID-19 epidemic has been a challenge for organization and adaptation to manage all COVID-19 positive and COVID negative. Through this study, we wanted to assess our procedures taken. They had been effective due to the low number of contamination and complications.

Impact of the COVID-19 on the surgical management of bone and soft tissue sarcoma: A systematic review

“…Similar regulation was reported by Bouche et al in France, with elective surgeries were to be stopped in all to centralize medical manpower and supplies in providing comprehensive COVID-19 care. 28 Meanwhile in Italy, medical personnel are reallocated to deal with COVID-19 cases instead, leading to non-urgent and non-cancer operations being stopped. This has resulted in a reduction of surgical activity and outpatient visits by up to 90%.…”

“… 7 Although a similar recommendation is being imposed in France, CT scan was not as practical to be regularly performed in real life. 28 …”

Retrospective Analysis of Nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Orthopedic and Traumatological Inpatients

“…A variety of different measures were taken to resume elective and acute surgery [15,16]. The European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy has released guidelines to ensure the safest environment possible for resuming elective surgery [17].…”

Orthopaedic Surgery during COVID pandemic and consequent Changes in our professional environment

“…Political and social regulations were imposed. All medical specialties had to adapt and observations from our corresponding members and authors worldwide pointed out the changes in our ways of managing different medical conditions including emergency, trauma, transplantation [ 7 ] and tumor [ 8 ], cases that could not wait. The lockdown and changes in the workflow of medical centers created new challenges for the teams in all specialties, mainly in centers responsible for trauma or tumor and that were supposed to manage patients with unknown infection status.…”