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Z Orthop Unfall 2021; 159(02): 209-215
DOI: 10.1055/a-1333-4099
Original Article/Originalarbeit

Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic in German Trauma Centres and Geriatric Trauma Centres DGU

Article in several languages: English | deutsch
Carsten Schoeneberg 
1   Department of Orthopedic and Emergency Surgery, Alfried Krupp Hospital Steele, Essen, Germany
,
Daphne-Asimenia Eschbach
2   Center for Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Marburg, Germany
,
Thomas Friess
3   Project Coordination Geriatric Trauma Centre, DGU Bochum, Germany
,
Sven Lendemans
1   Department of Orthopedic and Emergency Surgery, Alfried Krupp Hospital Steele, Essen, Germany
,
Christine Hoefer
4   AUC, Akademie der Unfallchirurgie GmbH, Munich, Germany
,
Steffen Ruchholtz
2   Center for Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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Abstract

Background The COVID 19 pandemic is a major challenge to all social systems, particularly the healthcare system. Within an international study, German Trauma Centres DGU and Geriatric Trauma Centres DGU have been questioned about their situation.

Method The questionnaire was translated from English into German and sent to all contacts. The evaluation was performed descriptively.

Results 71 of 692 centres participated in this study. Government instructions to avoid elective treatments have been adhered to by 68% of the hospitals, and the remaining performed only urgent elective treatments. There was also a decline in the number of traumatological patients. In more than 90% of the hospitals, only 0 – 4% of all patients treated for proximal femur fracture were tested positive for COVID-19. It appears that 84% of these hospitals have or will have financial deficits. Almost all hospitals were organised and ready to fight the pandemic with their personal and/or infrastructural resources they possess.

Conclusion Our questionnaire shows that the pandemic had an enormous effect on Trauma Centres DGU and Geriatric Trauma Centres DGU. The hospitals expect financial losses. Almost all the hospitals have provided personal and infrastructural resources to be used in the fight against the pandemic with a better outcome in Germany in comparison with international standards.

Key words

COVID-19 - Centre for Geriatric Trauma - Trauma Centre - IMPACT-Study - proximal femur fracture


Publication History

Article published online:
01 February 2021

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