Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34938592›Full record

ArticleGeriatric orthopaedic surgery & rehabilitation2021

Geriatric Proximal Femur Fractures During the Covid-19 Pandemic - Fewer Cases, But More Comorbidities.

Christina Polan, Heinz-Lothar Meyer, Manuel Burggraf, Monika Herten, Paula Beck, Henrik Braitsch, Lars Becker, Carsten Vogel, Marcel Dudda, Max Daniel Kauther

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Geriatric orthopaedic surgery & rehabilitation, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Christina PolanDepartment of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2777-4674
Heinz-Lothar MeyerDepartment of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Manuel BurggrafDepartment of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6191-7360
Monika HertenDepartment of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Paula BeckDepartment of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2285-611X
Henrik BraitschCentral Department of Medical Controlling, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Lars BeckerDepartment of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Carsten VogelDepartment of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Marcel DuddaDepartment of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Max Daniel KautherDepartment of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic is challenging healthcare systems worldwide. This study examines geriatric patients with proximal femur fractures during the COVID-19 pandemic, shifts in secondary disease profile, the impact of the pandemic on hospitalization and further treatment.

methodsIn a retrospective monocentric study, geriatric proximal femur fractures treated in the first six months of 2020 were analyzed and compared with the same period of 2019. Pre-traumatic status (living in a care home, under supervision of a legal guardian), type of trauma, accident mechanism, geriatric risk factors, associated comorbidities, time between hospitalization and surgery, inpatient time and post-operative further treatment of 2 groups of patients, aged 65-80 years (Group 1) and 80+ years (Group 2) were investigated.

resultsThe total number of patients decreased (70 in 2019 vs. 58 in 2020), mostly in Group 1 (25 vs. 16) while the numbers in Group 2 remained almost constant (45 vs. 42). The percentage of patients with pre-existing neurological conditions rose in 2020. This corresponded to an increase in patients under legal supervision (29.3%) and receiving pre-traumatic care in a nursing home (14.7%). Fractures were mostly caused by minor trauma in a home environment. In 2020, total number of inpatient days for Group 2 was lower compared to Group 1 (p = 0.008). Further care differed between the years: fewer Group 1 patients were discharged to geriatric therapy (69.6% vs. 25.0%), whereas in Group 2 the number of patients discharged to a nursing home increased.

conclusionsFalling by elderly patients is correlated to geriatric comorbidities, consequently there was no change in the case numbers in this age group. Strategic measures to avoid COVID-19 infection in hospital setting could include reducing the length of hospital stays by transferring elderly patients to a nursing home as soon as possible and discharging independent, mobile patients to return home.

Indexed as

agingcorona virusemergencyfragility fracturesfrailtygeriatric medicinegeriatric traumaorthopedicsosteoporosistrauma surgery

Identifiers

PMID34938592
PMCPMC8687435

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