Ascertain Changes in the Volume of Neurosurgical Procedures Carried Out Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (COVID-19) pandemic has had drastic effects on global healthcare. This study aimed to ascertain changes in the volume of neurosurgical procedures carried out before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic in Isfahan city hospitals, Iran.

This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the three Hospitals of Isfahan. Data of the neurosurgical patients (both urgent and nonurgent) treated from the February in 2017 to 2022 were collected. Two groups were thus created (COVID-19 (2020-2022), pre-COVID-19 (2017-2X019) and Post-COVID (2022-2023).

We treated 30456 admissions under neurosurgery during the COVID-19 (2020-2022) compared with 42300 admissions in pre-COVID-19 (2017-2019). Pre-COVID-19, the median number of referrals was 46 per 24 hour. During COVID-19, this decreased to 33 per day. During the post-COVID era, there was an admission of 17,341 patients, which escalated to 37 cases within a 24-hour timeframe during the post-COVID period. A noteworthy disparity was evident in the overall count of admitted patients, the aggregate of surgical procedures executed, and the elective surgical procedures performed during the post-COVID phase when juxtaposed with the pre-COVID and the COVID-19 pandemic periods (P<0.05). Additionally, there was a marked contrast in spinal column issues between the post-COVID period and the pandemic period (P<0.05).

The capacity to safely treat patients requiring urgent or emergency neurosurgical care was maintained at COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, following the conclusion of the pandemic, there was a decline in the number of surgical procedures in contrast to the pre-pandemic period.