The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Surgical Volume in 2020 in Poland

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic on total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgical volume in Poland. A retrospective analysis of data concerning THA and TKA collected by the National Health Fund in Poland in 2019 and in 2020 has been conducted. The number of primary hip or knee arthroplasties in 2020 was around 71% and 67% of the number registered in 2019, respectively. There was also a decline in the volume of revision arthroplasties observed, with 65% and 63% of THA and TKA revisions performed in 2019. The most significant decrease was observed in April and May, and during the second wave of the pandemic in November 2020, with a decline of 87%, 55% and 56%, respectively. The results of this study show the significant impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic had on the volume of elective hip and knee arthroplasties in Poland in 2020. In comparison with 2019, a decrease of around 30% for primary and of 40% for revision arthroplasties was observed. The most significant decline was observed in April and May 2020, and during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland in November 2020.

The combined effect of policy changes and the covid-19 pandemic on the same day discharge and complications following total hip arthroplasty: a nationwide analysis

“…Current total joint arthroplasty studies evaluating the decline in case volume due to COVID-19 are limited by lack of sample size and annual trend analysis. The few studies on this topic are either from countries outside the United States, review articles, single institutional evaluations, small multicenter collaborations, or simple projections based on historical data [4,[14][15][16][17][18][19]. Lowry Barnes et al analyzed Medicare Claims limited to the first quarter of 2020.…”

Questionnaire survey about the effects of new lifestyles during the pandemic of COVID-19 on upper limb diseases

“…[ 10 ] As a result, there has been a decrease in the number of elective surgeries, including joint prosthesis implantation. [ 11 ] Thus, our challenge is to address the needs of patients who require such surgeries. There have been detrimental changes in health in patients who have postponed elective procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

The Impact of COVID-19 Surges in 2019–2021 on Patient-Reported Outcome Measures After Spine Surgery at an Academic Tertiary Referral Center in Taiwan: A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study

“…Similar conditions have also been seen in surgeries ( 6 ). The impact of the pandemic on surgical volume may lead to postponement of elective surgeries ( 7 – 9 ), which may have unfavorable effects on patient outcomes ( 10 ). In fact, a recent global survey ( 11 ) showed that hip fracture service was disrupted during the pandemic, thereby impacting health and social care experienced by the patients.…”