Y N Tan1, P J Vandekerckhove2, P Verdonk3,4. 1. Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University Hospital Brussels, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090, Jette, Belgium. yuhantan@hotmail.com. 2. Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Sint-Jan Hospital, Ruddershove 10, 8000, Orthoclinic, AZ, Belgium. 3. ORTHOCA, AZ Monica, Stevenslei 20, 2100, Deurne, Belgium. 4. Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University Hospital Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The primary aim of our study was to investigate elective orthopaedic care during the first wave government-imposed COVID-19 lockdown and at four weeks and 21 weeks after resuming elective care. The secondary aim of our study was to evaluate the implementation of the European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy (ESSKA) COVID-19 Guidelines and Recommendations for Resuming Elective Surgery in the clinical practice of Belgian knee surgeons. METHODS: We sent three anonymous online surveys to 102 Belgian Knee Society members (BKS) at times mentioned above. Addressed topics were: (1) participant demographics, (2) elective surgeries, (3) outpatient visits, (4) ESSKA Guidelines, (5) patient and surgeon safety. RESULTS: During the COVID-19 lockdown, there was a decrease of 97% in elective knee surgeries and 91% in outpatient visits. At four and 21 weeks after resuming elective care, volumes were respectively 67% and 89% for elective surgeries and 81% and 91% for outpatient visits. Regarding ESSKA guidelines, 91% of surgeons had no COVID-19 testing prior to resuming elective care. Ninety-two per cent reported preoperative (< 72 h) patient PCR testing, and 45% gave preference to young patients without comorbidities. Seventy-two per cent did not use additional personal protective equipment (PPE) if a patient PCR test was negative. Forty-nine per cent continued to give preference to general anaesthesia. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that elective surgeries and outpatient visits were almost completely interrupted during the COVID-19 lockdown and were still below normal at four and 21 weeks after resuming elective care. Regarding ESSKA COVID-19 guidelines, our study observes good compliance in preoperative patient COVID-19 testing, but lower compliance for preoperative health care personnel testing, patient selection, use of PPE, and locoregional anaesthesia. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V.
PURPOSE: The primary aim of our study was to investigate elective orthopaedic care during the first wave government-imposed COVID-19 lockdown and at four weeks and 21 weeks after resuming elective care. The secondary aim of our study was to evaluate the implementation of the European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy (ESSKA) COVID-19 Guidelines and Recommendations for Resuming Elective Surgery in the clinical practice of Belgian knee surgeons. METHODS: We sent three anonymous online surveys to 102 Belgian Knee Society members (BKS) at times mentioned above. Addressed topics were: (1) participant demographics, (2) elective surgeries, (3) outpatient visits, (4) ESSKA Guidelines, (5) patient and surgeon safety. RESULTS: During the COVID-19 lockdown, there was a decrease of 97% in elective knee surgeries and 91% in outpatient visits. At four and 21 weeks after resuming elective care, volumes were respectively 67% and 89% for elective surgeries and 81% and 91% for outpatient visits. Regarding ESSKA guidelines, 91% of surgeons had no COVID-19 testing prior to resuming elective care. Ninety-two per cent reported preoperative (< 72 h) patient PCR testing, and 45% gave preference to young patients without comorbidities. Seventy-two per cent did not use additional personal protective equipment (PPE) if a patient PCR test was negative. Forty-nine per cent continued to give preference to general anaesthesia. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that elective surgeries and outpatient visits were almost completely interrupted during the COVID-19 lockdown and were still below normal at four and 21 weeks after resuming elective care. Regarding ESSKA COVID-19 guidelines, our study observes good compliance in preoperative patientCOVID-19 testing, but lower compliance for preoperative health care personnel testing, patient selection, use of PPE, and locoregional anaesthesia. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: V.
Authors: Azeem T Malik; John H Alexander; Daniel D Li; Mengnai Li; Safdar N Khan; Thomas J Scharschmidt Journal: J Arthroplasty Date: 2019-09-19 Impact factor: 4.757
Authors: Syed Ahmar Shah; Sinead Brophy; John Kennedy; Louis Fisher; Alex Walker; Brian Mackenna; Helen Curtis; Peter Inglesby; Simon Davy; Seb Bacon; Ben Goldacre; Utkarsh Agrawal; Emily Moore; Colin R Simpson; John Macleod; Roxane Cooksey; Aziz Sheikh; Srinivasa Vittal Katikireddi Journal: EClinicalMedicine Date: 2022-05-20