Surgical treatment for fragility hip fractures during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in lower short-term postoperative functional outcome and a higher complication rate compared to the pre-pandemic period
Issued Date
2022-10-01
Resource Type
ISSN
0937941X
eISSN
14332965
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85133577742
Pubmed ID
35809122
Journal Title
Osteoporosis International
Volume
33
Issue
10
Start Page
2217
End Page
2226
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Osteoporosis International Vol.33 No.10 (2022) , 2217-2226
Suggested Citation
Anusitviwat C., Vanitcharoenkul E., Chotiyarnwong P., Unnanuntana A. Surgical treatment for fragility hip fractures during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in lower short-term postoperative functional outcome and a higher complication rate compared to the pre-pandemic period. Osteoporosis International Vol.33 No.10 (2022) , 2217-2226. 2226. doi:10.1007/s00198-022-06485-w Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/85511
Title
Surgical treatment for fragility hip fractures during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in lower short-term postoperative functional outcome and a higher complication rate compared to the pre-pandemic period
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected the functional outcomes of fragility hip fracture patients. This study revealed a higher in-hospital complication rate and lower postoperative function at 3 months among patients treated during the pandemic. Therefore, modified in-hospital and post-discharge protocols should be developed for implementation during pandemic crisis periods. Introduction: This study aims to investigate the in-hospital complication rate and short-term postoperative functional outcomes of fragility hip fracture (FHF) patients compared between during the COVID-19 pandemic and the same 14-month time period 1 year prior to the pandemic. Methods: Using data from the Siriraj Fracture Liaison Service registry, FHF patients treated during the COVID-19 pandemic (1 March 2020 to 30 April 2021) were time-matched with FHF patients treated during the pre-pandemic period (1 March 2018 to 30 April 2019). We collected the rate of in-hospital postoperative complications and the postoperative functional outcomes at discharge and 3 months as measured by the Barthel Index (BI) and EuroQol visual analog scale (EQ-VAS). Functional outcome measures were compared between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. Results: There were 197 and 287 patients in the pre-pandemic and pandemic groups, respectively. At the 3-month postoperative follow-up, the mean postoperative BI score and change in BI score were both significantly lower in the pandemic group indicating poorer postoperative function. Moreover, FHF patients treated during the pandemic had significantly more in-hospital complications (36.6% vs. 22.8%, p = 0.002). There was no significant difference in the 3-month EQ-VAS or change in the EQ-VAS between groups. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed a higher in-hospital complication rate and lower postoperative function at 3 months among FHF patients treated during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period. Therefore, modified in-hospital and post-discharge protocols should be developed for implementation during pandemic crisis periods.