Table 5.
A comparison of published studies and the impact COVID-19 had on referrals or admissions in a trauma or emergency setting in neurosurgery and other specialities
| Author and year | Country | Speciality | Time period | Admission/referral | 2018/19/20 non-COVID period | 2020 COVID period | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neurosurgery | |||||||
| Current study | Ireland | NS | March 1–May 31, 2019 and 2020 | Referrals | 437 | 527 | − 17 |
| Ahuja 2020 | UK | NS | February 1–April 30, 2019 and 2020 | Referrals | 152 | 82 | − 46 |
| Hecht 2020 | Germany | NS | February 1–April 15, 2019 and 2020 | Admission | 655 | 352 | − 46 |
| Trauma and orthopaedics | |||||||
| Fahy 2020 | Ireland | Emergency department | March 27–April 27, 2019 and 2020 | Referrals | 174 | 136 | − 21 |
| Park 2020 | UK | T & O | March 17–April 16, 2019 and 2020 | Referrals | 162 | 87 | − 46 |
| Hernigou 2020 | Belgium | T & O | March 1–April 15, 2018 and 2020 | Admission | 132 | 88 | − 32 |
| Nuñez 2020 | Spain | T & O |
4 periods: March 17–April 5, 2018; March 16–April 4, 2019; February 23–March 13, 2020; March 14–April 2, 2020 |
Referrals |
1909 2161 1983 (Average 2018) |
512 | − 75 |
| Christey 2020 | New Zealand | T & O | March 5–18, 2020, March 26–April 8, 2020 | Admission | 124 | 71 | − 43 |
| Other surgical specialities | |||||||
| Sugrue 2020 | Ireland | Plastic surgery | March 18–April, 2018–2020 | Referrals |
45 (18) 49 (19) (Average 47) |
48 | + 2 |
| Valand 2020 | UK | Plastic surgery | January 2020 (4 weeks), March 2020 (4 weeks) | Referrals | 213 | 75 | − 65 |
| Motterle 2020 | Italy | Urology | February 24–March 31, 2019, February 22–March 30, 2020 | Referrals | 266 | 107 | − 60 |