Patient-reported Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 Positive Adult Orthopedic Trauma Patients Treated During the Ongoing Pandemic

Abstract

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has become a matter of concern all over the world. It has resulted in delay in surgery or, at times, preference for nonoperative treatment for SARS-CoV-2 positive orthopedically injured adult patients which may adversely affect the clinical outcomes. In this study, we report the outcomes of orthopedic adult trauma patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 at admission. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the prospectively collected data from the period between April 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020. We reviewed 521 out of total 2435 patients presenting in the casualty that required orthopedic trauma surgery. Thirty-eight out of total 521 patients, that tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, were followed-up using telecommunication for final outcome of fracture treatment. A telecommunication patient satisfaction score after injury (TPSSI) was used to evaluate the patient satisfaction. Results: The mean age was 37.94 years (range: 18–72 years). They were followed-up for mean duration of 8.18 months (range: 6–13 months). Out of total 38, 23 underwent orthopedic trauma surgeries and rest 15 were managed nonoperatively. There was a mean delay in surgery of 5 weeks (range: 3–12 weeks). Five patients lost their lives and seven others had nonunion. The median TPSSI score was three. Conclusions: Nonoperative and delayed surgical management of adult orthopedic trauma patients, who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 at admission, result adversely in activities of daily living and return to original occupation and, thus, have poor patient satisfaction.