Knee Pathology before and after SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An Analysis of 1139 Patients

Abstract

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic drastically changed daily life activities and medical practice, leading to a reorganization of healthcare activities. People spent two months in home-isolation, changing their daily habits and undertaking a more sedentary lifestyle. Change in lifestyle is related to important consequences in knee pathologies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outpatient activity for knee pathologies before and after lockdown in terms of incidence, severity, diagnosis, and treatment. Methods: Medical records of patients with knee pathology in outpatient follow-up at IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi in Milan (Italy) were analyzed in the time frame 4 May–4 September 2020 and compared with patients examined between 4 May and 4 September 2019. Results: A significant increase of knee diagnoses associated to patellofemoral disorders in 2020 was found (p = 0.004). In addition, physiotherapy was significantly more prescribed in 2020 than in 2019 (p = 0.012). Conclusions: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic lockdown did not drastically change knee pathology, but it may have had an impact on it, highlighting a summary worsening of patellofemoral disorders associated with other knee diagnoses. Further studies are required to validate this result.

Effect of Covid-19 on Eye Banks and Corneal Transplantations: Current Perspectives

“…37,40,41 Education of patients and clinician to the adoption of telecommunication for virtual consultation might result in a more rapid screening of urgent cases and deferrals of non-urgent ones, in the pursue of a more cost-effective clinical approach. 41,[87][88][89][90][91] Endorsement of surgeons in already available tissue sparing techniques for corneal transplant is strongly encouraged, to provide the highest efficiency of the Eye Bank/Corneal Transplant machinery, resulting in lower corneal tissues to be used for a higher number of patients. 22,42 Nonetheless, research on the microbicidal efficacy of several compound might represent the theoretical basis for their future and widespread adoption in routine clinical practice.…”

How the COVID-19 Pandemic Affected Attendance at a Tertiary Orthopedic Center Emergency Department: A Comparison between the First and Second Waves

“…During the Italian lockdown (March–April 2020) our institution was classified as a hub for ‘minor’ trauma, accounting for single-district low-energy trauma that required orthopedic surgical treatment [ 10 ]. Additionally, the majority of outpatient and elective medical practice was suspended or postponed until 4 May, when Italy moved to “phase 2” of progressively reducing reopening of retail establishments, as well as allowing for increasing recreational activity [ 12 ].…”

“…The first wave of COVID-19 spread had catastrophic effects for the whole healthcare system, and several strategies have been implemented to meet the growing demand of intensive care unit beds and to contain the contagion [ 9 ]. The redistribution of health care resources aimed at increasing critical care capacity affected and disrupted clinical, surgical and research activity at many levels [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. However, the need for ensuring care continuity did not stop emergency and trauma surgery, although they required a modulation of their activities to be adapted to the pandemic outbreak [ 14 , 15 ].…”

COVID-19 Elderly Patients Treated for Proximal Femoral Fractures during the Second Wave of Pandemic in Italy and Iran: A Comparison between Two Countries

“…During the first SARS-Cov-2 wave, Italy was one of the most hit countries; meanwhile, even in Iran, the spread of COVID-19 led to a dramatic situation from the perspective of management of the medical assistance activity [2][3][4]. These two nations have experienced a different adaptation to coexistence with the pandemic, profoundly changing the daily life activities and medical practice [5][6][7][8] by setting limitations and restrictions and adapting assistance activities to cope with the emergency [9][10][11]. The second wave, on the other hand, found both countries prepared to face the health emergency, having already allowed the opportunity to set up assistance protocols and organize a hierarchical priority in medical-assistance activities [12,13].…”