COVID-19 - Changes in the presentation and management of shoulder and elbow trauma in a UK district general hospital orthopaedic department.

Abstract

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on healthcare systems. We aim to quantify the impact of this outbreak on shoulder and elbow trauma in our institution. We prospectively collected data on patients presenting to our hospital with shoulder and elbow injuries during COVID-19. This included the number of attendances to the emergency department, fracture clinic, inpatient admissions and operative treatments. This was compared to a pre-COVID-19 period. We also assessed the efficacy of telephone clinics. There has been a noticeable decrease in the number of emergency department and fracture clinic attendances with upper limb complaints. The number of in-person fracture clinic reviews also decreased, with a reciprocal exponential increase in telephone consultations. We recorded a decrease in the number of shoulder and elbow trauma procedures performed. There was a small increase in the proportion of injuries treated conservatively during COVID-19. Our telephone clinics yielded a diagnosis and management plan in many cases and patient perspective appeared favourable. We have noted significant change in the upper limb caseload. Certain injuries have reduced, likely due to COVID-19 lockdown. Moreover, we consider several changes to current practices could be taken forward after the pandemic.