Evaluation of extremity and pelvis traumas admitted to the emergency department before and during the pandemic; with laboratory, embolism and mortality data

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the forms of trauma, demographic features, embolism status and mortality of patients who presented to the emergency department due to extremity and pelvis trauma before and during the pandemic period.
 Material and Method: This retrospective study included 319 patients, who presented to the emergency department due to trauma between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2020. The associations between embolism and mortality after trauma, as well as COVID-19, were investigated.
 Results: The mean age of the 319 patients was 55.11±19.02 years, the distribution was 19-90 years and 133 (41.7%) were women. It was determined that 171 (53.7%) of the trauma patients were in the pre-pandemic period and 148(46.3%) were in the pandemic period. Embolism was detected in 19 (11.1%) cases before the pandemic and in 35 (23.6%) cases during the pandemic (p=0.003). Pre-pandemic mortality was observed in 10(5.8%) cases, and in pandemic 21 (14.2%) cases (p=0.010). While embolism was present in 22 (71%) cases in the mortality group, it was not observed in 9(29%) cases (p=0.001).
 Conclusion: COVID-19 infection and pandemic can adversely affect the incidence of trauma, embolism and mortality. Embolism and mortality rates have increased significantly with the effects of COVID-19 during the pandemic period.