Trauma in Children during Lockdown for SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic. A Brief Report
Daniela Dibello,
Marcella Salvemini,
Carlo Amati,
Antonio Colella,
Giusi Graziano,
Giovanni Vicenti,
Biagio Moretti,
Federica Pederiva
Affiliations
Daniela Dibello
Unit of Pediatric Orthopaedics and Traumatology Giovanni XXIII Children’s Hospital, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy
Marcella Salvemini
Unit of Pediatric Orthopaedics and Traumatology Giovanni XXIII Children’s Hospital, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy
Carlo Amati
Unit of Pediatric Orthopaedics and Traumatology Giovanni XXIII Children’s Hospital, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy
Antonio Colella
Unit of Pediatric Orthopaedics and Traumatology Giovanni XXIII Children’s Hospital, University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy
Giusi Graziano
Orthopedic & Trauma Unit, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, School of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
Giovanni Vicenti
Orthopedic & Trauma Unit, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, School of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
Biagio Moretti
Orthopedic & Trauma Unit, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, School of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70124 Bari, Italy
Federica Pederiva
Pediatric Surgery Department, “Vittore Buzzi” Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milano, Italy
Purpose: The national lockdown established by the Italian government began on the 11th of March 2020 as a means to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infections. The purpose of this brief report is to evaluate the effect of the national lockdown on the occurrence and characteristics of trauma in children during lockdown. Methods: All children admitted to our paediatric orthopaedic unit with a diagnosis of fracture or trauma, including sprains and contusions, between 11 March 2020 and 11 April 2020, were retrospectively reviewed. Their demographic data, type of injury, anatomical location and need for hospitalisation were compared with the equivalent data of children admitted for trauma in the same period of 2018 and 2019. Results: Sixty-nine patients with trauma were admitted in 2020, with a significant decrease in comparison with 2019 (n = 261) and 2018 (n = 289) (p p < 0.01). Conclusions: Home confinement decreased admissions to the emergency department for trauma by shutting down outdoor activities, schools and sports activities. However, the rate of fractures increased in comparison with minor trauma, involved younger children and had a worse prognosis.