Introduction

Trauma remains pandemic in South Africa despite the ongoing healthcare burden from communicable and non-communicable diseases, resulting in a quadruple disease burden [1,2]. During the Covid-19 pandemic, social behaviour was governed by changing rules and regulations dependent on the waves of the infection rate. This behaviour led to a change in the demographics and clinical characteristics of patients frequenting emergency departments. Most studies conducted globally compared these newfound statistics to the year 2019 as a control group or the troughs of the infection rate as a pre-lockdown vs a lockdown during a wave of the infection rate [3-14]. The United Kingdom (UK) showed a decrease in overall trauma by 35% [3]. However, the mechanisms of injury had changed to an increase in self-harm and domestic violence-related injuries and a reduction in interpersonal violence attributed to the rules of staying at home and social distancing during the various levels of lockdown [3]. With isolation at home and a lockdown of the economy, psychological stresses increased due to financial stress, unemployment, and alcohol consumption [3]. Healthcare facilities were not frequented due to the fear of contracting the virus; therefore, mental health diseases went uncontrolled, and victims of domestic violence had no safe haven; thus, the trauma profile changed [3,4,11]. The increase in domestic violence is echoed by other centres, with a 7 - 27% increase in reports at police departments [4].

In contrast to the UK, the United States of America (USA) showed a decrease in overall trauma but an increase in penetrating trauma during their lockdown periods with a statistically significant increase in GSW [7,8]. The rates of assaults and self-inflicted injuries increased as well [3,9-13]. Orthopaedic trauma decreased in the Iranian and French pediatric populations [5,14]. While the Indian study showed a decrease in Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) during lockdowns [6]. One recognizes the trend in the trauma profile changed globally but with conflicting evidence dependent on the country of origin and the mechanism of Injury.

However, the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa (RSA) is unique in that its trauma profile was influenced by multiple international, national, and local events. In July 2021, RSA was experiencing its 3^rd Covid 19 wave and was in an adjusted level 4 lockdown. This translated to the prohibition of alcohol sales, curfew from 9 pm to 4 am, restaurants to only do take-aways, all social gatherings prohibited, masks, sanitizing, and social distancing were mandatory [15]. At the same time, there was a national civil unrest resulting in riots and looting with the addition of a fire at the neighboring Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) Trauma Centre, deeming this centre closed from the 16^th April 2021. As a result, the only functional Level 1 trauma centre, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH), had to navigate the above events and the changing trauma profile. We aim to describe how the trauma profile was affected by the Covid-19 lockdown, a hospital fire and riots at the two Trauma Centers in Johannesburg.

Methods

A retrospective audit of the Medibank database, Morbidity and Mortality meetings data and patient Emergency department registry for the week of 9 - 16 July 2019, 2020, and 2021 at CHBAH and CMJAH. The study dates were determined by the unusual riot period experienced in the country. Variables assessed, included the number of patients seen in TEU (Priority 3 patients -P3) and Trauma resuscitations (Priority 1 (P1) and Priority 2 (P2) patients), mechanism of injury and emergency surgical procedures performed. The data over the three year similar periods were compared to assess the similarities and differences in each period. Patients’ mechanisms of injury that included burns were excluded from the study. Categorical variables are reported as frequencies and percentages. The chi-squared test was used to assess statistical significance. STATA version 17 was used for all statistical analysis. A p-value of less the 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Ethics approval was given by the Humans Research Ethics Committee (Medical) of the University of the Witwatersrand (M220247) and the relevant hospital authorities.

Results

Both hospitals over the years show a similar patient demographic with a predominance of young males susceptible to traumatic injury, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

With regards to surgical procedures done, 2021 had all cavities explored, whereas 2020 did not do neck, chest, or vascular repairs, and 2019 had the same as 2020 with the addition of no sternotomies done.

Discussion

The general trend from the study period in 2019 and 2021 is a predominance in penetrating trauma, with stabs being the most common mechanism except for 2021, where GSW is predominant. This is explained by the riots and looting that occurred, in which it has been said that guns and ammunition were also looted, allowing for easier access [17]. The only other national events seen in RSA in which GSW predominated were during the emergence of our democracy and the xenophobic attacks of 2008 [18-20]. Aside from these events, an audit spanning from 2011 - 2016 in the same unit showed a predominance of penetrating trauma, namely, stab wounds [21]. Although the absolute numbers of P3 patients seen during Covid lockdowns decreased significantly, the overall percentage (75%) was similar to that of 2021. The statistical significance of 2020 (Covid 19 lockdown) and 2021 (riots) to the control year 2019 shows that national and international events can significantly change the trauma profile. This changing trauma profile with regards to the pandemic is evident in many studies, as well as the effect of civil unrest previously experienced in RSA, where some studies showed a predominance of injuries related to self-harm and domestic violence and others an increase in GSW [3,4,7-9,18-20].

The only other country to show a similar trauma profile of GSW predominance during riots and a Covid lockdown is USA. Braun et al. showed increased use of the MTP (massive transfusion protocol) for violent trauma (GSW and stabs) during the civil unrest post the George Floyd death in 2020. GSW was the most common mechanism and used 16 components of the MTP compared to 8 components of the MTP used in stab wounds [22]. GSWs are higher velocity compared to stab wounds and result in more destructive injury along their path compared to stab wounds. Therefore, it is unsurprising that GSWs will require more blood and blood product transfusions, thereby activating the MTP more often [23]. A common disadvantage during the Covid 19 pandemic experienced internationally was its effect on surgical resident training [24]. The decrease in trauma patients in our unit during 2020 translated to a reduction in surgical procedures. One benefit the riots did bring was registrar training. Surgical procedures included those not commonly done in the preceding 2 years, namely, thoracotomies, neck explorations and vascular repairs. The amount of experience gained surgically within 1 week is incalculable, not to mention the experience of mass casualty and triage, which is not new to the CHBAH Trauma Unit. During the Covid 19 pandemic, our Trauma Unit, namely the resuscitations (P1 + P2 Patients), emergency unit (P3 patients), theatres and our wards, were all person under investigation (PUI) areas, with adherence to Covid 19 Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) protocols.

Airway interventions are commonplace in a trauma resuscitation area. It is reassuring to note that despite mass casualties, our unit Covid positivity rate was only 9% during the riots, which was below the national average of 29.1% [16]. Trauma resuscitation protocols require PPE even before the Covid 19 pandemic. Of note, only two of the fifty staff members tested positive for Covid during this time, which is still a significant reduction in our workforce but most likely unavoidable.

Although the riots increased the number of patients seen, especially P1 and P2, it did not significantly impact the Covid 19 positivity rate. The positivity rate was 9%, lower than the national average at that time of 29.1% in 2021 and 24.8% in 2020 [16]. Despite being in the same Covid 19 lockdown level 4 in 2020 and 2021, where alcohol sales and social gatherings were prohibited, rioters did not abide by these laws and the Covid positivity rate increased from 5% to 9%, which was not statistically significant. Besides the accessibility of weapons, alcohol also plays a key role in the trauma profile of RSA with specific reference to CHBAH [21]. International, national, and local events play a crucial role in the trauma profile regardless of the laws imposed.

The limitation of this study

This is a retrospective study with the study-period dictated by the riots, prone to potential bias. The fire affected the functions at CMJAH with possible diversion of patients to other secondary hospitals; thus, the total number treated might have been underrepresented. No subset analysis was done regarding selfharm and domestic violence during this Covid 19 study period as the numbers were small.

Conclusion

A fire at CMJAH, the Covid-19 lockdown and riots influenced the remaining functional Level 1 Trauma centre’s (CHBAH’s) patient load and profile. These resulted in an increased number of patients seen with no effect on the gender, age or Priority distribution of patients. However, a predominance of GSW translated to more surgical procedures being performed. The Covid-19 positivity rate was similar in the 2020 and 2021 periods. South African trauma can be influenced by national and international events. This should be considered by all policymakers when addressing preventative trauma strategies.

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