Foot and Ankle Trauma: Epidemiology Before, During, and Post COVID-19 Pandemic in a Level I Trauma Center: A 5-Year Experience and Data Analysis

<b>Background</b>: Foot and ankle injuries are one of the leading orthopedic causes of emergency department (ED) admissions. The purpose of this study was to analyze, through 5 years of data collection, differences in number and type of admissions, as well as the severity of foot and ankle trauma to the ED in the pre-pandemic period, during the COVID-19 emergency, and in the post-pandemic period. This study aims to assess epidemiological and clinical data. <b>Methods</b>: Five years of data were collected on admissions to the ED at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli using an electronic database. The system allowed the use of a numeric code assessed at triage ranging from 1 to 5, where 1 indicated a patient with compromised vital functions, and it continued in decreasing criticality. Data were extensively analyzed and extrapolated to obtain epidemiological and clinical evaluation. <b>Results</b>: Data from 3787 patients, including 1945 males with a mean age of 41.4 years, were collected. Data were evaluated in the three different periods. In the pre-pandemic period, 2228 ED admissions were recorded, including 1138 males with a mean age of 37.4 years and a mean of 2.79 admissions per day. Codes 3 and 4 reported in the ED triage were 4.8% and 90.1%, respectively; the average surgical treatment was 5.6%. During the COVID period, the total number of admissions was 981, with 501 males with an average age of 43.8 years and a mean of 1.30 admissions per day. Codes 3 and 4 were 22.5% and 72.7%, respectively; the average surgical treatment was 10.4%. In the post-COVID period, 578 admissions were, including 306 males with a mean age of 43.2 years, and a daily access rate of 1.58 patients. Codes 3 and 4 reported in the ED triage were 25.4% and 70.8%, respectively; the average surgical treatment was 8.6%. <b>Conclusions</b>: During the pandemic period due to COVID-19 a substantial decrease in total admissions per day in the ED was noted, but an increase in more complex codes occurred, as evidenced by the percentage increase in surgical admissions compared to total admissions during the pandemic; the mean age of users gradually increased. Total hospitalization data remained stable in the post-pandemic period, likely due to the global impact of the pandemic. COVID-19 radically and concretely changed people's living habits and priorities for accessing the ED.