The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Elbow Trauma in the Pediatric Population

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had significant effects on children's daily activities. Changes in the patterns of pediatric trauma injuries were inevitable. Therefore, we aimed to identify the effects of lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic on the etiology and epidemiology of pediatric elbow injuries.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on pediatric patients admitted to the emergency room with elbow trauma during the first 3 months of the pandemic (11th, March, 2020 to 11th, June, 2020) and for the same periods in 2019 and 2018. Age, sex, etiology and type of injury (distal part of humerus, proximal radius and ulna, nursemaid's elbow and soft tissue injuries) were analyzed and compared between the periods.RESULTS: A total of 152 patients, 61 in 2018, 56 in 2019 and 35 in 2020 were included. There were 42.7% and 37.5% decreases in the number of patients during the pandemic compared to 2018 and 2019, respectively. A younger age group was more commonly affected during the pandemic (p=0.01). The most common type of injury was supracondylar humerus fracture followed by soft tissue injury in both periods, before and during the pandemic. During the pandemic, the rates of injuries at home, in the playground and by vehicles (car, bicycle, scooter) increased while outside injury decreased significantly (50.4%, p<0.05).CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic caused a decline in the frequency of pediatric elbow injuries but the increase in injuries at home and vehicle accidents have shown the necessity for health-care to be prepared for these specific conditions.