Irish journal of medical science
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Digital Contact Tracing is seen as a key tool in reducing the propagation of Covid-19. But it requires high uptake and continued participation across the population to be effective. To achieve sufficient uptake/participation, health authorities should address, and thus be aware of, user concerns. ⋯ The HSE have responded to the public's desire for targeted feedback in newer versions, but should consider increasing the app's proactive engagement. The results suggest they should also raise the backward compatibility issue, regarding older iPhones, with Apple.
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Ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists are a high-risk group for COVID-19. Although the implications of SARS-CoV-2 infection on physical health are well-documented, the psychological impact is frequently overlooked. ⋯ The long-term psychological sequelae of COVID-19 will be felt as the physical burden eases. As we adjust to new normalities, ENT surgeons must be conscientious of the mental health issues that arise from the working environment. Sources of anxiety emanated from a lack of control over infection risk, increased vulnerability to COVID-19 relative to other specialties and the implications this has for ENT specialists and their families. Future interventions must focus on increasing awareness of the available psychological support services for our healthcare workers.
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Aim of this study is to report the trauma workload during COVID19 lockdown in a region of four million people and to compare it with the same period in 2019. ⋯ One month of lockdown showed a 68% decrease in the number of A&E visits and a 74% decrease of fractures that required surgery. Femur fracture showed the lowest decrease moving from 635 to 409 units but increasing their incidence rate (42 to 61%).
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Observational Study
The impact of COVID-19 on acute urinary stone presentations: a single-centre experience.
The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a change in the numbers of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with non-COVID symptoms, resulting in delayed presentations of many medical and surgical conditions. ⋯ The COVID-19 pandemic did not result in fewer or sicker patients presenting with acute ureteric colic cases to the ED.
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Hip fractures are a common and serious orthopaedic injury. The principle of treatment for hip fractures in the "non-elderly" patient is to preserve the native hip. There is limited published literature in this area. ⋯ DHS remains the most widely used fixation technique in an effort to preserve the native hip. The use of THA has increased and surpassed the usage of hemi-arthroplasty in recent times. A high proportion of these patients will go on to develop complications requiring secondary surgery; therefore, they all need long-term follow-up.