The effect of the covid-19 pandemic on total hip and knee arthroplasty surgical volume in 2020 in Poland

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic on total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgical volume in Poland. A retrospective analysis of data concerning THA and TKA collected by the National Health Fund in Poland in 2019 and in 2020 has been conducted. The number of primary hip or knee arthroplasties in 2020 was around 71% and 67% of the number registered in 2019, respectively. There was also a decline in the volume of revision arthroplasties observed, with 65% and 63% of THA and TKA revisions performed in 2019. The most significant decrease was observed in April and May, and during the second wave of the pandemic in November 2020, with a decline of 87%, 55% and 56%, respectively. The results of this study show the significant impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic had on the volume of elective hip and knee arthroplasties in Poland in 2020. In comparison with 2019, a decrease of around 30% for primary and of 40% for revision arthroplasties was observed. The most significant decline was observed in April and May 2020, and during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland in November 2020.