Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Major Trauma Treated at a Level I Trauma Centre

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The paper aims to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on a change in the number of major trauma cases, their mechanism and length of hospital stay as seen by a Level I Trauma Centre. MATERIAL AND METHODS The retrospective study included a total of 755 major trauma patients (ISS >= 16) treated at our Level I Trauma Centre in the period 2018-2019 ("pre-COVID-19 time") and 2020-2021 ("COVID-19 time"). The effect of COVID-19 infection on the change in the number and nature of major trauma, mechanism of injury, length of treatment during prehospital care, length of hospital stay, and mortality. RESULTS Of the total number of 755 patients with major trauma, in the "pre-COVID-19 time" 399 patients were treated, while in the "COVID-19 time" it was 356 patients (p = 0.10). The mechanism of major trauma did not change, road traffic accidents prevailed (61% vs. 56%, p = 0.25), the proportion of injuries due to falls from height increased (25% vs. 32.5%, p = 0.08), a significant decrease was observed in the category of severe skiing injuries (7 vs. 2, p = 0.003). The severity of injuries evaluated by Injury Severity Score remained unchanged (25 vs. 25, p = 0.08), but an increased number of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) marked by the Abbreviate Injury Score (AIS) >= 4 was observed (38 vs. 56, p = 0.03). The total length of a hospital stay shortened (18 vs. 15 days, p = 0.04), but the mortality rate spiked (52 vs. 73 patients, p = 0.08). DISCUSSION In the "COVID-19 time", the total number of major trauma cases dropped just like in the other European countries. Despite restrictive measures imposing mobility restrictions, no change was reported in the mechanism of injury, with traffic accidents still prevalent, except for skiing injuries. Unlike the US, we did not see an increase in penetrating injuries due to interpersonal violence or suicidal behaviour. However, there was an increase in the percentage of patients with an isolated TBI as a result of a fall from height. An increase in mortality was reported due to an increase in severe TBI. The length of hospital stay was reduced as a result of efforts to maintain hospital bed availability. CONCLUSIONS During the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to the two years immediately preceding, no significant decrease in the number of major trauma cases was reported, despite the introduction of restrictive measures. The proportion of road traffic injuries remained the same, whereas the number of falls from height slightly increased, which consequently led to an increase in the number of severe TBI. The number of penetrating injuries due to acts of violence did not increase, but due to the lockdown there was a significant decrease in severe skiing-related injuries. The anti-epidemic measures in place did not prolong the pre-hospital care for severely injured patients.