The impact of COVID-19 nationwide control measures on trauma workload at a regional trauma center

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has led to the control of movement and diversion of medical resources in many countries. This affects the provision of care to critically injured patients.Methods: We analyzed data from the trauma registry of a regional trauma center in Singapore, looking at patient volume and the pattern of injuries over a 3-month period. This was compared with the same period in the preceding 2 years.Results: A total of 93 patients were admitted during this period, compared with 111 in 2019 and 118 in 2018, a drop of 15% to 20%. The proportion of severely injured patients and the mechanism of injury were largely unchanged. Conclusion:Although there was a minor decrease in the absolute number of patients, the severity and pattern of injuries remained unchanged. Planners should consider this when planning for the diversion of medical and nursing resources.