tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2020 Apr 30. doi: 10.1007/s00167-020-06032-2. [Epub ahead of print]
Massive cutback in orthopaedic healthcare services due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Liebensteiner MC[SUP]1[/SUP], Khosravi I[SUP]2[/SUP], Hirschmann MT[SUP]3,[/SUP][SUP]4[/SUP], Heuberer PR[SUP]5[/SUP]; Board of the AGA-Society of Arthroscopy and Joint-Surgery, Thaler M[SUP]1[/SUP].
Collaborators (12)
Author information
Abstract
PURPOSE:
Due to the lack of evidence, it was the aim of the study to investigate current possible cutbacks in orthopaedic healthcare due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic (COVID-19).
METHODS:
An online survey was performed of orthopaedic surgeons in the German-speaking Arthroscopy Society (Gesellschaft f?r Arthroskopie und Gelenkchirurgie, AGA). The survey consisted of 20 questions concerning four topics: four questions addressed the origin and surgical experience of the participant, 12 questions dealt with potential cutbacks in orthopaedic healthcare and 4 questions addressed the influence of the pandemic on the particular surgeon.
RESULTS:
Of 4234 contacted orthopaedic surgeons, 1399 responded. Regarding arthroscopic procedures between 10 and 30% of the participants stated that these were still being performed-with actual percentages depending on the specific joint and procedure. Only 6.2% of the participants stated that elective total joint arthroplasty was still being performed at their centre. In addition, physical rehabilitation and surgeons' postoperative follow-ups were severely affected.
CONCLUSION:
Orthopaedic healthcare services in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland are suffering a drastic cutback due to COVID-19. A drastic reduction in arthroscopic procedures like rotator cuff repair and cruciate ligament reconstruction and an almost total shutdown of elective total joint arthroplasty were reported. Long-term consequences cannot be predicted yet. The described disruption in orthopaedic healthcare services has to be viewed as historic.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:
V.
KEYWORDS:
Arthroplasty; Arthroscopy; COVID-19; Coronavirus disease 2019; Health-care; Ligament reconstruction; Orthopaedic; Rotator cuff; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
PMID:32356047DOI:10.1007/s00167-020-06032-2
Massive cutback in orthopaedic healthcare services due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Liebensteiner MC[SUP]1[/SUP], Khosravi I[SUP]2[/SUP], Hirschmann MT[SUP]3,[/SUP][SUP]4[/SUP], Heuberer PR[SUP]5[/SUP]; Board of the AGA-Society of Arthroscopy and Joint-Surgery, Thaler M[SUP]1[/SUP].
Collaborators (12)
Author information
Abstract
PURPOSE:
Due to the lack of evidence, it was the aim of the study to investigate current possible cutbacks in orthopaedic healthcare due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic (COVID-19).
METHODS:
An online survey was performed of orthopaedic surgeons in the German-speaking Arthroscopy Society (Gesellschaft f?r Arthroskopie und Gelenkchirurgie, AGA). The survey consisted of 20 questions concerning four topics: four questions addressed the origin and surgical experience of the participant, 12 questions dealt with potential cutbacks in orthopaedic healthcare and 4 questions addressed the influence of the pandemic on the particular surgeon.
RESULTS:
Of 4234 contacted orthopaedic surgeons, 1399 responded. Regarding arthroscopic procedures between 10 and 30% of the participants stated that these were still being performed-with actual percentages depending on the specific joint and procedure. Only 6.2% of the participants stated that elective total joint arthroplasty was still being performed at their centre. In addition, physical rehabilitation and surgeons' postoperative follow-ups were severely affected.
CONCLUSION:
Orthopaedic healthcare services in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland are suffering a drastic cutback due to COVID-19. A drastic reduction in arthroscopic procedures like rotator cuff repair and cruciate ligament reconstruction and an almost total shutdown of elective total joint arthroplasty were reported. Long-term consequences cannot be predicted yet. The described disruption in orthopaedic healthcare services has to be viewed as historic.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:
V.
KEYWORDS:
Arthroplasty; Arthroscopy; COVID-19; Coronavirus disease 2019; Health-care; Ligament reconstruction; Orthopaedic; Rotator cuff; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
PMID:32356047DOI:10.1007/s00167-020-06032-2