Early Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Burn Injuries, Admissions, and Care in a Statewide Burn Service

Anecdotal evidence from specialist burn clinicians suggested patient numbers and workloads increased during lockdown periods. This study aimed to describe the impact of the early COVID-19-related public health control measures (i.e., lockdowns) on burn injuries, hospital admissions, and care in a statewide burn service. We examined admissions data from The Victorian Adult Burns Service (located at the Alfred Hospital) and the Royal Children’s Hospital Burns Service—both of which contribute to the Burns Registry of Australia and New Zealand—during lockdown periods between March and October 2020, compared to the same periods in previous years. There were 714 patients admitted during the control period and 186 during the COVID-19 period. Burns sustained during COVID-19 lockdowns were larger in size. During COVID-19 lockdowns a greater proportion of patients were admitted to intensive care. Although the number of burn-related admissions did not increase during lockdowns, burn injuries that did occur were more severe (i.e., affected a greater percentage of body surface area). These more severe injuries placed an additional and significant burden on an already strained healthcare system. Future public health messaging should include prevention information to minimize the number of injuries occurring during lockdowns and other responses.

[1]  C. Palmer,et al.  Childhood injury and injury prevention during COVID-19 lockdown – stay home, stay safe? , 2021, Injury.

[2]  M. Stella,et al.  Burns during the epidemic, what changed? , 2021, Burns.

[3]  C. Smolle,et al.  Burns in pandemic times – The Graz way towards COVID-19 and back , 2020, Burns.

[4]  H. Cleland,et al.  Burn wound excision within 24 h: A 9-year review. , 2020, Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries.

[5]  Daniel Harris,et al.  Impact of COVID‐19 social restrictions on trauma presentations in South Australia , 2020, Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA.

[6]  A. Rogers,et al.  The Impact of COVID-19 on Burn Care at a Major Regional Burn Center , 2020, Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association.

[7]  B. Sivakumar,et al.  Impact of COVID‐19‐related social restrictions on orthopaedic trauma in a level 1 trauma centre in Sydney: the first wave , 2020, ANZ journal of surgery.

[8]  B. Azzena,et al.  Burn Unit admission and management protocol during COVID-19 pandemic , 2020, Burns.

[9]  A. Kam,et al.  Fewer presentations to metropolitan emergency departments during the COVID‐19 pandemic , 2020, The Medical journal of Australia.

[10]  Y. Ullmann,et al.  Trends in Burn Injuries in Northern Israel during the COVID-19 Lockdown , 2020, Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association.

[11]  J. Hsu,et al.  Impact of societal restrictions and lockdown on trauma admissions during the COVID‐19 pandemic: a single‐centre cross‐sectional observational study , 2020, ANZ journal of surgery.

[12]  D. Roland,et al.  Did children ‘stay safe’? Evaluation of burns presentations to a children’s emergency department during the period of COVID-19 school closures , 2020, Archives of Disease in Childhood.

[13]  A. Singer,et al.  Burn visits to a pediatric burn center during the COVID-19 pandemic and ‘Stay at home’ period , 2020, Burns.

[14]  Md. Abu Sayed,et al.  COVID-19 and the rise of the full ‘Fitness’ friction burn , 2020, Burns.

[15]  B. King,et al.  COVID-19 related admissions to a regional burn center: The impact of shelter-in-place mandate , 2020, Burns Open.

[16]  D. Enescu,et al.  The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the activity of a pediatric burn center in Bucharest, Romania , 2020, Burns.

[17]  B. King,et al.  Increased Burn Center Admissions During COVID-19 Pandemic , 2020, Journal of Burn Care & Research.

[18]  A. Sack,et al.  Changes in burn referrals and injuries during CoVid-19 , 2020, Burns.

[19]  M. Rogers,et al.  Impact of lockdown measures implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic on the burden of trauma presentations to a regional emergency department in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa , 2020, African Journal of Emergency Medicine.

[20]  J. Hamill,et al.  Reduction of childhood trauma during the COVID‐19 Level 4 lockdown in New Zealand , 2020, ANZ journal of surgery.

[21]  A. Farroha.  Reduction in length of stay of patients admitted to a regional burn centre during COVID-19 pandemic , 2020, Burns.

[22]  M. Singhal,et al.  Managing Burns During COVID-19 Outbreak , 2020, Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association.

[23]  A. Farroha.  Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on burns epidemiology , 2020, Burns.

[24]  J. Aguilera-Sáez,et al.  Implementation and evaluation of telemedicine in burn care: Study of clinical safety and technical feasibility in a single burn center. , 2020, Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries.

[25]  G. Christey,et al.  Variation in volumes and characteristics of trauma patients admitted to a level one trauma centre during national level 4 lockdown for COVID-19 in New Zealand. , 2020, The New Zealand medical journal.

[26]  T. Pham,et al.  Burn center function during the COVID-19 pandemic: An international multi-center report of strategy and experience , 2020, Burns.

[27]  G. Luo,et al.  Management strategies for the burn ward during COVID-19 pandemic , 2020, Burns.

[28]  G. Luo,et al.  Experience and suggestion of medical practices for burns during the outbreak of COVID-19 , 2020, Burns.

[29]  H. Cleland,et al.  The Burns Registry of Australia and New Zealand: progressing the evidence base for burn care , 2016, The Medical journal of Australia.

[30]  Hadley Wickham,et al.  Dates and Times Made Easy with lubridate , 2011 .

[31]  S. Guthridge,et al.  Socio-economic indexes for areas (SEIFA) of administrative health districts and urban centres/localities in the Northern Territory , 2005 .