Estimating the Nosocomial Transmission Rate of COVID-19 in Orthopaedic Surgery Patients During the Peak of the Pandemic

Figures & data

Figure 1 Patients included in this study.

Figure 2 Types of surgical cases performed during the study period.

Abbreviations: UE, upper extremity; LE, lower extremity; I&D, irrigation and debridement; ROH, removal of hardware.

Figure 3 The percentage of inpatient hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 positive patients in each of the hospitals over the study period.

Notes: Blue diamond, hospital 1; Red square, hospital 3; Green triangle, hospital 3. Data from hospitals 1 and 3 represent weekly averages based on daily reported values, whereas hospital 2 is based on weekly reported values.

Table 1 Summary of Patient Demographics

Characteristic	All Initial COVID(-) (n = 103)	COVID(+) Converts (n = 6)
Hospital, n (%)
Inpatient 1	63 (61.2)	4 (66.7)
Inpatient 2	14 (13.6)	2 (33.3)
Inpatient 3	11 (10.7)	0 (0.0)
Ambulatory center	15 (14.6)	0 (0.0)
Age (years)
Mean (SD)	57.0 (21.0)	60.2 (17.5)
Range	18–98	25–71
Median [Q1, Q3]	58 [43, 71]	66.5 [63, 69]
Gender, n (%)
Male	55 (53.4)	4 (66.7)
Female	48 (46.6)	2 (33.3)
Body mass index (BMI)
Mean (SD)	28.3 (7.2)	26.3 (6.7)
Range	15.2–63.7	21.3–38.3
Median [Q1, Q3]	27 [23.6, 32.5]	23.2 [21.9, 30.1]
Note: 2 missing values
Length of admission (days)
Mean (SD)	4.3 (4.6)	9.8 (7.4)
Range	1–31	2–21
Median [Q1, Q3]	3 [2, 5]	8.5 [3, 16]
Note: 2 missing values
Discharge location, n (%)
Home	74 (71.9)	2 (33.3)
Rehab	29 (28.1)	4 (66.7)

Abbreviations: LOA, length of admission; BMI, body mass index.

Table 2 Risk Factors Associated with Post-Operative COVID Positive

Parameter	Converted COVID(+) (n=6)	Did Not Convert COVID(+) (n=76)	p-value
Inpatient hospitalization	6	62	0.58
Discharge to rehab	4	20	0.06
Female Sex	2	33	1
Comorbidities:
HTN	5	24	0.02**
CHF	2	0	0.005**
CVA	0	2	1
Pulmonary	1	8	0.51
DM	3	10	0.05**
Psychologic	0	5	1

Note: **Indicates statistically significant values (p<0.05).

Abbreviations: HTN, hypertension; CHF, congestive heart failure; CVA, cerebrovascular accident; DM, diabetes mellitus.

Table 3 Comparison of Age, Length of Admission, and BMI Between Patients Who Did and Did Not Convert to COVID(+)

	Converted COVID (+)	Did Not Convert COVID(+)	p -value
Mean age	60.2	54.6	0.28
LOA	9.8	3.9	**0.02
BMI	26.3	29.2	0.25

Note: **Indicates statistically significant values (p<0.05).

Abbreviations: LOA, length of admission; BMI, body mass index.