Results of the first 1,000 procedures after resumption of elective orthopedic services following COVID-19 pandemic: Experiences of a high-volume arthroplasty center
Thorsten Gehrke1*, Philip Linke1*, Amir Sandiford2, Christian Lausmann1, Mustafa Citak1
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, ENDO-Klinik Hamburg, Holstenstr, Hamburg, Germany
2Joint Reconstruction Unit, Southland Hospital, Kew Road, Kew, Intercargill, New Zealand
Keywords: COVID-19, elective surgery, orthopedic surgery, screening
Abstract
Objectives: This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of a screening questionnaire to identify high-risk patients for novel coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) among those undergoing elective orthopedic surgery.
Patients and methods: Between May 4th, 2020 and June 11th, 2020, a total of 1,021 consecutive patients (492 males, 529 females; mean age: 62.3±15.1 years; range, 13 to 91 years) who were scheduled for elective orthopedic surgery were included. A screening questionnaire was applied to all patients. The patients admitted to hospital were also tested for COVID-19 infection through reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of the nasopharyngeal swab.
Results: Of the patients, 1,003 (98.2%) underwent elective surgery as planned. The screening questionnaire classified 30 patients as high-risk for COVID-19. A total of 18 procedures (n=18, 1.8%) were postponed due to the high risk of possible transmission of COVID-19. None of 991 low-risk patients were tested positive for COVID-19.
Conclusion: The use of guiding principles for resuming elective orthopedic surgery is safe without a higher risk for complications in selected cases.
* Thorsten Gehrke and Philip Linke contributed equally to the writing of this manuscript.
Citation: Gehrke T, Linke P, Sandiford A, Lausmann C, Citak M. Results of the first 1,000 procedures after resumption of elective orthopedic services following COVID-19 pandemic: Experiences of a high-volume arthroplasty center. Jt Dis Relat Surg 2021;32(1):3-9.
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.
The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.