An evaluation of the characteristics of orthopedic pediatric traumas during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of implemented social isolation measures on the characteristics of orthopedic pediatric traumas during this COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period. METHODS: Patients who were admitted at our center between two time periods: April 3, 2019–May 31, 2019 (no lockdown period) and April 3, 2020–May 31, 2020 (lockdown period) were included to the study. Group 1 comprised 743 patients who were treated during no lockdown period, whereas Group 2 comprised 615 patients who were treated during lockdown period. Patients’ medical records and radiographs were reviewed through our hospital’s computer database. In addition, we recorded each patients’ age and gender, their definite diagnosis, the anatomic location of the trauma, the type of trauma (fracture, dislocation, tendon injury, ligament injury, fracture dislocation, open fracture, etc.), the type of pediatric fracture (displaced fracture, torus fracture, epiphyseal fracture, pathological fracture, etc.), and the treatment method (non-operative/operative). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was significantly lower in Group 2 (p<0.001). There were significant differences between the groups in terms of anatomic locations of the traumas (p<0.001). The types of the traumas, pediatric traumas, and treatment were significantly different between the groups (p<0.001, p<0.001, and p<0.001, respectively). The frequency of operative treatment was significantly higher in Group 2 (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated significant differences in patients’ demographics as well as trauma characteristics during COVID-19 pandemic.