Incidence Of Orthopaedic Trauma Cases Managed in A Tertiary Hospital in Western Visayas During the Pre Covid and Covid Period: A Comparative Study

Objectives: To determine the incidence of Trauma cases during the pre-Covid versus Covid period in tertiary hospitals in Western Visayas and its effect on each orthopedic training programs in the region.

Methods: All data will be gathered from Orthopedic training institutions in Western Visayas namely Western Visayas Medical Center, West Visayas Stare University Medical Center, and Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital during the Covid period (January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020) and pre Covid period (Jan 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019). These data are extracted from the PBO Elogbook which were submitted by each training institution in the years 2019 and 2020 with the permission of the Chairman of the Philippine Board of Orthopaedics. Only trauma cases shall be included. 

Results: Out of the three training institutions, only CLMMRH had an increase of more than half (177.938%) in the number of trauma cases during the COVID period compared to pre-COVID years. While the other two, WVMC and WVSU-MC, decreased by more than one-fourth. All three institutions had significant differences in the distribution of trauma cases between the pre-COVID and COVID period. There was no significant difference in the decrease of cases (2.715%).  Decrease in the number of cases was observed during the months of May (50.000%), September (29.651%), October (25.543%) and November (43.925%). 

Conclusion: COVID 19 has affected all sectors including healthcare including residency training. With the frequent lockdowns and restrictions, movement of people were also affected which in turn decreased the incidence of trauma.  Also, the designation of most centers as Covid 19 dedicated hospitals has affected the bed capacity and cases catered by the hospitals with preference to Covid 19 patients.  This has decreased the number of trauma cases in WVMC and WVSUMC wherein patients were diverted to other nearby private hospitals and satellite hospitals. On the other hand, CLMMRH has noted an increase in the number of trauma cases.  

Keywords: COVID 19, Trauma Cases, Pre- covid, Covid period