Table II.

Suggested targets for orthopaedic procedures in the Federation of Surgical Specialty Associations clinical guide to surgical prioritization during the coronavirus pandemic.¹⁸

Priority	Procedures
Priority 2 (surgery within 1 month)	Spinal surgery for degenerative conditions with progressive neurology or neurological deficit	Knee extensor disruption	Locked joints	Peripheral nerve decompression: with pain/weakness/ muscle wasting, not responding to conservative treatment	Arthroplasty where delay will prejudice outcome
Priority 3 (surgery within 3 months)	Hip avascular necrosis with night pain/collapse of the joint/loss of mobility Recurrent prosthetic joint instability	Frozen shoulder: severe and not responding to conservative treatment	Tendon reconstruction or repair	Revision surgery Implant loosening without impending fracture	Locked knee Anterior cruciate ligament and other tendon reconstructions	Spinal surgery, injection or decompressive surgery for intractable radiculopathy
Priority 4 (surgery to wait more than 3 months)	Arthroplasty/arthrodesis, where delay will not prejudice outcome)	Hand and upper limb surgery, where not otherwise specified		Metalwork removal	Degenerative spinal disease withoutneurological compromise or refractory pain