IMPACT OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN TRAUMATOLOGY EMERGENCIES

INTRODUCTION: In March 2020 the Government of Spain imposed a strict national closure to suppress the COVID-19 outbreak. The implementation of various measures during the different phases of confinement and de-escalating, led to a significant decrease in public mobility, modifying the daily life and activities of citizens. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was carried out including patients evaluated and diagnosed in the Traumatology Emergency Department of our centre during that period, and compared with 2019. The profile of the patients and the injuries treated based on the established diagnoses were analyzed. The weeks considered were divided into total confinement, de-escalation phase 0, 1, 2 and 3. 8511 patients were reviewed. RESULTS: The measures established during the first wave of the Covid- 19 outbreak showed a tremendous impact on the activity of the Traumatology Emergency Department. The number of patients cared for decreased by 59% in 2020. Despite a significant reduction compared to the previous year, the only fractures that remained constant were those of the femur. The cases of minor trauma and pain that do not necessarily require access to an emergency room are progressively reduced to 71% and 61%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings could help in future pandemics to formulate a protocol for patient management, identify areas for improvement and resource planning. It is important to understand which presentations are less common during a state of emergency and which presentations occur with it, or even more frequently.