How did social isolation change trauma patterns? Comparative analysis of isolation and normal periods

Objective: This study examines the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on the demographic profiles and injury mechanisms of trauma patients in the emergency department (ED), while accounting for seasonal variations.Methods: A retrospective cohort study compared a seven-month full isolation period (Dec 2020 – June 2021) with a non- isolation period (Dec 2021 – June 2022) at a tertiary university hospital. Data were obtained via ICD-10 codes, and categorical variables were analyzed using the Chi-Square test.Results: Analysis included 2,439 patients from the isolation period and 8,736 from the non-isolation period. During isolation, the 18–44 age group's share of trauma presentations decreased from 56.1% to 47.0%, while the 65+ age group increased from 9.0% to 14.6% (p < 0.001). No significant difference was found in gender distribution. The rate of falls rose from 27.1% to 37.8% (p < 0.001), and penetrating and sharp object injuries (PSOI) increased from 9.9% to 12.1% (p = 0.002). While minor traumas like sprains decreased, motor vehicle accidents showed no proportional change.Conclusion: Isolation measures shifted the trauma focus from young adults to the geriatric population and from outdoor activities to indoor incidents (falls and PSOI). These findings provide a critical reference for ED triage and resource management in future pandemic planning.