Surg J R Coll Surg E
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Surg J R Coll Surg E · Dec 2021
ReviewCollaborative Overview of coronaVIrus impact on ORTHopaedic training in the UK (COVI - ORTH UK).
COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on the 11th of March 2020 with the NHS deferring all non-urgent activity from the 15th of April 2020. The aim of our study was to assess the impact of COVID-19 on Trauma and Orthopaedic trainees nationally. ⋯ This study has objectively demonstrated the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all aspects of T&O training.
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Surg J R Coll Surg E · Dec 2021
Lessons from lockdown: Virtual Clinics and service reorganisation in fracture management during COVID 19 experience of an Irish Regional Trauma Unit.
Trauma places a burden on healthcare services accounting for a large proportion of Emergency Department presentations. COVID-19 spread rapidly affecting over 30 million worldwide. To manage trauma presentations the Department of Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery reorganised service delivery. ⋯ Over one in four fracture clinic patients can be managed virtually. A new dedicated Acute Fracture Unit within our institution permitted streamlining of care and social distancing. The "Non-COVID" pathway for ambulatory trauma was essential in managing the growing presentations of these injuries.
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Surg J R Coll Surg E · Oct 2021
How has COVID-19 affected surgical practice in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in the East Midlands, UK?
The impact on the provision of care within the NHS due to COVID-19 can not be understated. It has created various challenges for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons due to the high-risk nature of working within this specialty. The aims of this study were to identify the ongoing clinical activities at the height of pandemic, the guidance issued to staff regarding the use of personal protective equipment and the changes to maxillofacial practice. ⋯ All units reported a continuation of Head and Neck cancer and emergency operations with a complete reduction in TMJ and orthognathic surgery. FFP3 masks were the most popular masks used for theatre activity whilst FFP2 and surgical masks were more widely used for examining patients and performing procedures in the emergency department. Changes in maxillofacial practice included the use of local flaps compared to free flaps, use of intermaxillary fixation (IMF) where appropriate for craniofacial trauma and routine COVID-19 testing for all inpatients.
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Surg J R Coll Surg E · Oct 2021
The important role of in-situ simulation in preparing surgeons for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Effective training is vital when facing viral outbreaks such as the SARS Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak of 2019. The objective of this study was to measure the impact of in-situ simulation on the confidence of the surgical teams of two hospitals in assessing and managing acutely unwell surgical patients who are high-risk or confirmed to have COVID-19. ⋯ In-situ simulation is an effective training method. Its versatility allows it to be set up quickly as rapid-response training in the face of an imminent threat. In this study, it improved the preparedness of two surgical teams for the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Surg J R Coll Surg E · Oct 2021
Observational StudyAre there benefits to maintaining Covid-19 pandemic pathways for the long-term? A surgical assessment unit based study.
The Covid-19 pandemic has led to the introduction of conservative non-operative approaches to surgical management favouring community driven care. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of these pathways on patients attending a surgical assessment unit (SAU). ⋯ There were no differences in 30-day readmission rates, length of hospital stay, and 30-day mortality with the changes to pathways. Our findings suggest the resource efficient conservative Covid-19 pathways could potentially continue long-term. However, further multi-centre studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up duration will be required to validate our findings.