The Impact of COVID-19 on the Surgical Wait Times for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Ontario

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of COVID-19 on surgical wait times for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PRS) in Ontario, Canada. Methods: Ontario's wait time data has fourteen reporting categories for PRS. For each category, the mean wait time for consultation and for surgery were reported. Each category was given a priority ranging from 1 to 4. Two periods, three-month and six-month, were selected and compared to the same calendar months of the previous year. Wait times, surgical volume and percent change to the provincial wait time target were reported and compared to the baseline data. Results: This study reviewed 9563 consults and 15,000 operative cases. There was a 50% reduction in the volume of surgical consults during the study period compared to the baseline period (P = 0.004). The reduction ranged from 46% to 75% based on the reporting category. The volume of surgical cases decreased by 43% during the study period compared to the baseline period (P = 0.005). A statistically significant increase in the mean wait times for surgery was observed, involving priorities 2 to 4 (overall mean = 32 days, P <= 0.01). There was a 15% decrease in the percentage of surgeries meeting the provincial target times (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: COVID-19 has caused a significant reduction in the volume of cases performed in the majority of PRS categories with an overall increase in the wait times for consultation and for surgery. Recovery following COVID-19 will require strategies to address the growing volume of cases and wait times for surgery across all PRS categories.