Orthopaedics and Traumatology in COVID-19 Pandemic

Objectives: We aimed to convey our pandemic observations and experience as orthopedics and traumatology clinic in the period from the formal declaration of the first case in Turkey to the descending trend of the number of active cases. Materials and Methods: The first Coronovirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) case in Turkey was seen on March 11 and all elective surgeries were postponed as of March 17th. The number of active cases entered a downward trend with the number of patients recovering daily exceeding the number of new cases daily on April 24. The numbers and categories of surgeries performed in our clinic between March 17 and April 24, 2020 were examined and analyzed by comparing to the same period of 2019. Results: A total of 105 surgical operations were performed in our clinic between March 17 and April 24, 2020. Of these operations, 33.3% were trauma, 25.7% were hand and finger injury, and 14.3% were orthopedic oncology cases. During the same period of 2019, a total of 436 operations were performed, of which 19.3% were trauma, 16.5% were arthroscopy, 12.6% were arthroplasty, 11.9% were hand and finger injuries, and 8.9% were oncological surgery cases. It was seen that the number of surgeries decreased by 76% during the pandemic. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected daily life and work practice in the field of orthopedics and traumatology. It is important to create an administrative organizational chart during crisis periods like a pandemic and to implement the measures to be taken immediately.