The influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on traumatic brain injuries in Tyrol: experiences from a state under lockdown

Abstract

Purpose In February 2020, the federal state of Tyrol in Austria has become one of the epicenters of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tyrol is known for numerous skiing areas. Thus, winter sport resorts became a starting point for COVID-19 infections spreading towards the rest of the state, Austria and other countries, leading to a mandatory quarantine for almost a million people, who were placed under a curfew and restrictions in daily life. Additionally, all ski resorts and hotels were closed. We aimed to analyze the influence of the COVID-19 quarantine on traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases in Tyrol. Methods We retrospectively compared demographical and injury characteristics from all TBI patients within the 2020 strict quarantine period with the respective time periods from 2016 to 2019. As our department is the only neurosurgical unit in Tyrol, all patients with moderate or severe TBI are transferred to our hospital. Results During 3 weeks of the full quarantine period, the weekly TBI cases load decreased significantly in comparison to the same time periods in the years 2016-2019. Furthermore, concomitant skull fractures decreased significantly (p < 0.016), probably reflecting different causative mechanisms. The other demographical and injury characteristics and particularly falls at home stayed relatively unchanged. Conclusion TBI remained an important contributor to the neurosurgical workflow during the COVID-19 pandemic. Strategies to ensure neurosurgical care also under pandemic-induced lockdown are important.

Trends and outcomes for non-elective neurosurgical procedures in Central Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…The most obvious explanation is restricted mobility and outdoor activity within countries. This, in turn, led to fewer traumatic accidents (e.g., motor vehicle) and a subsequent reduction in brain and spinal cord injuries 27 – 29 .…”

Severely injured patients do not disappear in a pandemic: Incidence and characteristics of severe injuries during COVID-19 lockdown in Finland

“…Consequently, the place of injury has moved from sportsgrounds to the home (Pellegrini et al 2020). In France, for example, the rate of domestic hand injuries treated at university trauma hand units doubled, even though the overall rate of upper limb emergencies plummeted (Pinggera et al 2020).…”

“…In France, for example, the rate of domestic hand injuries treated at university trauma hand units doubled, even though the overall rate of upper limb emergencies plummeted (Pinggera et al. 2020 ).…”

Biomarkers to Safely Discharge Head Trauma Patients in the Covid-19 Pandemic Era

“…Health systems in several countries were on the verge of collapse, not to mention the economic downturn. The mandatory quarantine and restrictions in daily living, implemented by several countries, have been proven to reduce traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases significantly [ 1 ]. However, in relation to the mechanism of injury, a relative increase in low-impact falls at home was seen [ 1 ].…”