Abstract
The second wave of COVID-19 infections in 2021 resulting from the delta strain had a significantly larger impact on the state of New South Wales, Australia and with it the government implemented harsher restrictions.
This retrospective cohort study aims to explore how the increased restrictions affected hand trauma presentations and their treatment. Retrospective analysis was performed on patients who underwent hand surgery from the period of June 23 – August 31 in 2020 and 2021 at a level one trauma centre in Western Sydney.
During the second-wave lockdown there was an 18.9% decrease in all hand trauma presentations. Despite widespread restrictions placed on the manufacturing, wholesale, retail and construction industries, there was an insignificant difference in work injuries.
Stay-at-home orders and reduced availability of professional tradespersons likely contributed to an increase in DIY injuries. Significant reductions in metacarpal and phalangeal fractures coincided with significantly curtailed sporting seasons. The findings from this study can assist in predicting the case-mix of hand trauma presentations and resource allocation in the setting of future waves of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
