Lockdown of an Orthopedic Department During COVID-19 Epidemics, Our Experience in a General Hospital

The COVID-19 disease is rapidly spreading around the world, affecting many countries and their healthcare systems.Like many other countries, Iran is struggling with the current situation. In this article, we aim to share our perspectiveson confronting obstacles mentioned above using appropriate hospital protocols during the COVID-19 crisis.We investigated and compared the number of referred patients to the emergency room, elective, and emergentorthopedic operations in our hospital, along with a number of residents and faculty participants in the morning reportsand virtual classes before and after the outbreak of COVID-19 in our hospital.The number of referred patients to the emergency room was significantly reduced; the number of orthopedic operationswas also decreased to almost zero in March 2020. Meanwhile, we managed to dismiss our residents and reducethe number of in-hospital morning reports and conferences. Instead, we designed virtual classes, and the number ofparticipants in our virtual classes grew to almost two-third of the whole participant. We also managed to fortify our virtualoffice system to reduce the number of in-hospital visits.Since our hospital had become a leading center for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, and the number of referredtrauma patients, elective, and trauma operations, along with educational activities, was reduced. There was also asignificant concern about the management of elective, trauma, and post-operative patients in this era. Orthopedicfaculty members needed to react to the current situation cautiously. We were able to manage the situation withconsideration of our educational path, along with the management of personal protective equipment (PPE), and theuse of communication technologies and specific protocols to overcome the obstacles mentioned above. Yet involvedour staff andWith orthopedic faculties active involvement at in-hospital activitie and establishment of hospital protocols consideringtechnological facilities and WHO guidelines, we can improve education, management of PPE, and both orthopedicelective and trauma patients.Level of evidence: IV