Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Open Fracture Management at Vajira Hospital Impact of COVID-19 on Open Fracture Management
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Abstract
Objectives: Patients with open fractures were often treated later than usual during the COVID-19 pandemic, which could impact their outcomes, particularly regarding infection risks. However, some studies suggest that the timing of surgery does not directly influence infection rates. We aimed to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the way open fractures were managed, focusing on any changes in treatment timing and patient outcomes before and during the pandemic.
Materials and Methods: Retrospective data at Vajira Hospital were collected and divided into two groups: one group received treatment before the COVID-19 pandemic (pre-COVID group), and the other group during the COVID-19 pandemic (COVID group). Key factors such as injury time, time to first surgery, and time to first dose of antibiotics were considered. The primary outcome was the difference in waiting times for surgery. Secondary outcomes included infection rate, nonunion rate, and reoperation rate.
Results: The researchers collected data from a total of 76 patients for each of the pre-COVID and COVID groups. No significant differences were found in waiting times for surgery or in the time to the first dose of antibiotics between the two groups. The mean waiting time for surgery was shorter in the COVID group (587.2 min) compared to the pre-COVID group (683.4 min), but this difference was not statistically significant. The mean time to the first dose of antibiotics in the COVID group (183.8 min) was shorter than in the pre-COVID group (212.2 min), but did not meet the statistically significant threshold. There were no significant differences in complication rate (infection rates, nonunion rates, and reoperation rates) between groups.
Conclusion: COVID-19 did not affect the waiting time for the treatment of open fractures and did not impact the outcomes or complications of open fracture treatment at Vajira Hospital. This may be attributed to the hospital’s strict criteria for emergency surgeries, prioritizing critically needed cases, ensuring timely and standard treatment.
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