Trauma care in times of COVID-19: The importance of considering all trauma patients as potentially infected

Abstract

Objective: The COVID-19 epidemic and the polytrauma patient care field appear to be dissipating at first sight. Although trauma care personnel are not considered the first line in the attack against the pandemic, their role in controlling this outbreak is fundamental. The aim of this study is to assess the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in trauma care personnel and issue recommendations established in the literature. Methods: A retrospective and cross-sectional study was carried out of patients’ records with a diagnosis of admission of polytrauma, in which concurrent infection by SARS-COV2 was detected, collecting demographic and clinical variables. Results: There were 15 patients included; 33.3% were female and 66.7% were male. The average age was 32 years, 46.7% presented brain trauma, and 66.7% of all cases required surgical management. All the patients denied respiratory symptoms. However, all presented suggestive lesions by imaging, being confirmed by performing RT-PCR in each of them. Conclusion: This work shows that the personnel in charge of treating trauma are highly likely to be exposed. Therefore, we have to adjust to the established recommendations to protect both health personnel and the patient.

Keywords

• SARS-COV2. COVID-19. Risk. Protection. Trauma.