Epidemiology of Pediatric Musculoskeletal Trauma Patients Admitted to the Trauma Center of King George's Medical University (KGMU) During COVID-19-Induced Lockdown.

Purpose: This retrospective study aims to document the epidemiology of pediatric musculoskeletal trauma patients admitted over a one and half year period to the trauma center of King George's Medical University (KGMU) and the effect of COVID-19-induced lockdown on the timeliness of care.

Methods: We analyzed data of 174 patients for demography, types of injuries, mechanism of injuries, the site where the injury was sustained, the severity of injuries, nature of the injury, and the regions involved by the injuries.

Results: Mean age was 12.44±4.4. One hundred and twelve (67.46%) were males and 62 were females (32.54%). When compared with the period prior to lockdown, significantly higher times were recorded during the lockdown for time to a reception at the trauma center (p=0.028) and the time spent in receiving area of the trauma center (p<0.001). The most common mode of injury was low energy falls (n=68; 40.96%). The most commonly involved region was the lower limb (n=156; 51.82%). The region involved by the injury and the frequency of fracture types varied with the age of the subjects. The frequency distribution of injuries in males and females was almost similar till the age of nine years. The most common injuries of the lower extremity and upper extremities were fracture shaft of the femur and supracondylar fracture of the humerus, respectively.

Conclusion: Our study presents a precise estimate of demography and injury characteristics of pediatric musculoskeletal injuries, which may be helpful in planning and policymaking. The effect of the pandemic on the timeliness of care can be used for improving the infrastructure required to handle future waves of the pandemic.