The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the mortality and morbidity of patients undergoing trauma surgery: a report from the UK Corona TRAUMA Surge (UKCoTS) study

Purpose To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the outcomes of the patients who underwent trauma surgery during the peak of the pandemic. Methods The UKCoTS collected the postoperative outcomes of consecutive patients who underwent trauma surgery across 50 centres during the peak of the pandemic (April 2020) and during April 2019. Results Patients who were operated on during 2020 were less likely to be followed up within a 30-day postoperative period (57.5% versus 75.6% p <0.001). The 30-day mortality rate was significantly higher during 2020 (7.4% versus 3.7%, p <0.001). Likewise, the 60-day mortality rate was significantly higher in 2020 than in 2019 ( p <0.001). Patients who were operated on during 2020 had lower rates of 30-day postoperative complications (20.7% versus 26.4%, p <0.001). Conclusions Postoperative mortality was higher during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the same period in 2019, but with lower rates of postoperative complications and reoperation.