Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on the outcome of trauma victims presenting to emergency department compared to the pre-coronavirus disease 2019 period of 2018

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to a decline in trauma admissions globally, but its impact in India remained unclear. This study analyzed trauma cases at a tertiary care center in South India, comparing admissions during the pandemic (September 2020–January 2021) with prepandemic data from 2018. Methodology: The study included a prospective analysis of trauma cases during the pandemic and a retrospective comparison using trauma data retrieved from the hospital database from the year 2018. The aim was to assess changes in trauma incidence and outcomes. Results: Trauma prevalence during the pandemic was 13.2% (3302/25,087), with a median age of 33 years (interquartile range: 21–49). Road traffic accidents (RTAs) accounted for 56% (1805/3224). Falls on level ground (FLGs) increased to 14.4% (464/3224), showing a 59.7% rise, while RTAs decreased by 14.5% in the prospective group. Severe injuries (NISS >15) were observed in 13.8% (445/3224), with 30.9% (998/3224) requiring major surgery. Among admissions, 8.6% (74/862) tested positive for COVID-19. Predictors of adverse outcomes included age over 60 (odds ratio [OR]: 0.26, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.12–0.53), COVID-19 positivity (OR: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.07–0.36), and NISS >15 (OR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.19–0.7). Conclusions: The pandemic altered trauma patterns, with RTAs declining and FLGs increasing. Older age, severe injuries, and COVID-19 positivity were significant predictors of poor outcomes. These findings provide insights for optimizing trauma care during public health crises.