Disruption of joint arthroplasty services in Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic: an online survey within the European Hip Society (EHS) and the European Knee Associates (EKA)

This study shows the results of an online suvey amongst European arthroplasty surgeons, members of the European Hip and European Knee societies, about the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on joint arthroplasty service. The survey regarded four topics(1) origin and surgical experience of the participant (four questions); (2) potential disruption of arthroplasty surgeries (12 questions); (3) influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the particular arthroplasty surgeon (four questions); (4) a matrix provided 14 different arthroplasty surgeries and the participant was asked to state whether dedicated surgery was stopped, delayed or cancelled. 272 surgeons from 40 different countries participated. 25.7% stated that all surgeries were cancelled in their departments, whreas 68.4% responded that elective inpatient procedures were no longer being performed. Nearly all primary TJA were cancelled (92.6%) as well as aseptic revisions (94.7%). In most hospitals, periprosthetic fractures (87.2%), hip arthroplasty for femoral neck fractures and septic revisions for acute infections (75.8%) were still being performed