Changes in trends during the COVID-19 lockdown: An urban, Level-1 trauma center's experience

Am J Surg. 2021 Oct;222(4):832-841. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2021.02.015. Epub 2021 Feb 20.

Abstract

Background: A community lockdown has a profound impact on its citizens. Our objective was to identify changes in trauma patient demographics, volume, and pattern of injury following the COVID-19 lockdown.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted at a Level-1 Trauma Center from 2017 to 2020.

Results: A downward trend in volume is seen December-April in 2020 (R2 = 0.9907). February through April showed an upward trend in 2018 and 2019 (R2= 0.80 and R2 = 0.90 respectively), but a downward trend in 2020 (R2 = 0.97). In April 2020, there was 41.6% decrease in total volume, a 47.4% decrease in blunt injury and no decrease in penetrating injury. In contrast to previous months, in April the majority of injuries occurred in home zip codes.

Conclusions: A community lockdown decreased the number of blunt trauma, however despite social distancing, did not decrease penetrating injury. Injuries were more likely to occur in home zip codes.

Keywords: COMMUNITY LOCKDOWN; COVID-19; TRAUMA; TRENDS.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / prevention & control*
  • Female
  • Hospitals, Urban / standards
  • Hospitals, Urban / statistics & numerical data
  • Hospitals, Urban / trends*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Physical Distancing*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Trauma Centers / standards
  • Trauma Centers / statistics & numerical data
  • Trauma Centers / trends*
  • Violence / statistics & numerical data
  • Violence / trends*
  • Wounds, Nonpenetrating / epidemiology
  • Wounds, Nonpenetrating / therapy
  • Wounds, Penetrating / epidemiology
  • Wounds, Penetrating / therapy
  • Young Adult