Background Distal radius fractures (DRFs) constitute 15–21% of all fractures. There are no detailed data on the possible changes in the epidemiology and treatment of DRFs in children and adults during the Covid pandemic. The purpose of our study was a comprehensive assessment of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on distal radius fractures (DRF) epidemiology, including both children and adults and various fracture fixation methods in two large trauma centers in Poland. Methods This study compared the medical data on the treatment of distal radius fractures in Poland in two periods: the period of the COVID-19 pandemic (from March 15 to October 15, 2020) and the corresponding period prior to the pandemic (from March 15 to October 15, 2019). We assessed detailed data from two trauma centers for pediatric and adult patients. Outpatients seeking medical attention at emergency departments and inpatients undergoing surgery at trauma-orthopedic wards were evaluated. We compared epidemiological data, demographic data, treatment type, and hospital stay duration. Results The total number of patients hospitalized due to DRF during the pandemic was 180, it was 15.1% lower than that from the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period (212). In the case of adult patients, the total number of those hospitalized during the pandemic decreased significantly (by 22%) from 132 to 103 patients. Analysis of the individual treatment methods revealed that the number of adults who underwent conservative treatment was considerably (by 30.3%) significantly lower in the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, from 119 to 83 patients. Compared to 13 patients from the pre-pandemic period, the number of surgically treated adults statistically increased to 20 patients (by 53.8%). Our analyses showed hospitalizations of surgically treated adults to be shorter by 12.7% during the pandemic, with the corresponding hospitalizations of surgically treated pediatric patients to be shorter by11.5%. Conclusions Our study showed a significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiology and treatment of DRFs in children and adults. We found decreased numbers of pediatric and adult patients with DRFs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic caused an increase in the number of children and significantly increase adults undergoing surgical treatment for DRFs, a decrease in mean patient age, shorter significantly length of hospital stay, and an increased number of men with DRFs.

Background: Approximately 10–25% of total hip replacement patients undergo a bilateral procedure. The purpose of this study was to compare selected parameters associated with the first and second hip arthroplasty in patients undergoing two-stage treatment due to bilateral hip osteoarthritis and establish the predictive factors for the second procedure. Methods: This study compared the data on bilateral total hip replacement surgeries conducted in the period between 2017 and 2021 (42 patients). The following parameters from the first and second procedure were compared: the prosthetic stem, head, and insert cup size; type of cup insert; duration of anesthesia; duration of hospitalization; and the number of complications. Results: The mean duration of hospital stay at the time of the first total hip arthroplasty was 5.83 days and 5.4 days during the second stay. The mean stem sizes used during the first and second total hip replacement procedures were 7.11 and 7.09, respectively. The mean sizes of endoprosthetic cups used at the first and second total hip replacement procedures were 52.64 and 53.04, respectively. There were no significant differences between the mean prosthetic head size at the first and second surgery. The cup type used during the first and second surgery showed no difference. The mean duration of anesthesia used during the first and second total hip replacement surgery was 108.09 min and 104.52 min, respectively. We recorded a mean of 0.07 complications per patient at the first surgery and 0.02 at the second surgery. Conclusions: Our study results showed symmetry duration of anesthesia, length of hospital stay, number of complications per patient, stem size, prosthetic head size, cup insert size, and cup insert type at the first and second surgery in patients with two-stage bilateral total hip arthroplasty. We observed a strong correlation between the stem sizes of the first and second hip endoprostheses. There was also a strong correlation between the cup sizes used during the first and second surgery.

Bacground: The purpose of our study was a comprehensive assessment of the impact of theCOVID-19 pandemic on distal radius fractures(DRF)epidemiology,including both children and adults and various fracture fixation methods in two large trauma centers in Poland.Methods: This study compared the data on the treatment of distal radius fractures in Poland in two periods:the period of the COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding period prior to the pandemic.We assessed detailed data from two trauma centers for pediatric and adult patients.We compared epidemiological data,demographic data,treatment type,and hospital stay duration.Results: The total number of patients hospitalized due to DRF during the pandemic was 15.1% lower than that from the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period.In the case of adult patients, the total number of those hospitalized during the pandemic decreased significantly(by 22%) from132 to103patients.Analysis of the individual treatment methods revealed that the number of adults who underwent conservative treatment was considerably(by 30.3%)significantly lower in the period of the COVID-19 pandemic.Compared to the figures from the pre-pandemic period,the number of surgically treated adults was significantly higher(by 53.8%).Our analyses showed hospitalizations of surgically treated adults to be shorter by 12.7%during the pandemic,with the corresponding hospitalizations of surgically treated pediatric patients to be shorter by11.5%.Conclusions: Our study showed decreased numbers of pediatric and adult patients with DRFs during the COVID-19 pandemic.The pandemic caused an increase in the number of children and significantly increase adults undergoing surgical treatment for DRFs, a decrease in mean patient age,shorter significantly durations of hospital stay, and an increased number of men with DRFs.

Purpose: There is no consensus as to the number of bone cortices engaged in tibiofibular syndesmosis treatment. The purpose of our study was to assess the weight distribution on the lower limbs after tricortical or quadricortical syndesmosis fixation and different timing of screw removal. Methods: A total of 55 patients who underwent treatment for acute tibiofibular syndesmosis injury were analyzed in this study. The Zebris pedobarographic platform was used to measure the distribution of body weight on the lower limbs. The study population was stratified by the time to syndesmotic screw removal (8–15 weeks versus 16–22 weeks) and the number of bone cortices involved in fixation (three [tricortical fixation] versus four [quadricortical fixation]). Results: The weight distribution on the operated and healthy limbs in patients with tricortical syndesmosis fixation was asymmetrical, with the mean load on the operated and healthy limbs of 48.38% and 51.62%, respectively. The patients who underwent quadricortical syndesmosis fixation exhibited a symmetrical distribution of weight on the operated and healthy limb. There was a symmetrical distribution of the load of body weight on the operated and healthy limbs both in the group with different times to syndesmotic screw removal. Conclusion: Tricortical syndesmosis fixation is associated with an asymmetrical weight distribution on the operated and healthy limbs. In treating tibiofibular syndesmosis injuries, based on our pedobarographic research, quadricortical syndesmosis fixation and leaving the syndesmotic screw in place for up to 15 weeks, seems more beneficial to the patient.