An Asymptomatic Patient with COVID-19 with Hip Hemiarthroplasty Performed: A Case Report of an Orthopaedic Surgeon's Experience

JBJS Case Connect. 2020 Jul-Sep;10(3):e20.00288. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.20.00288.

Abstract

Case: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic respiratory disease. Patients typically present with fever, cough, and radiological lung changes. However, a significant proportion of these patients are asymptomatic. To date, we have limited information on the operations performed on these patients. We report our experience of a relatively asymptomatic elderly patient who underwent surgery for a hip fracture and was confirmed postoperatively to have COVID-19.

Conclusion: Meticulous hand hygiene and use of surgical mask in daily practice is crucial to protect against asymptomatic and undiagnosed patients.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Asymptomatic Diseases*
  • Betacoronavirus / isolation & purification*
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections* / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections* / physiopathology
  • Delayed Diagnosis / prevention & control*
  • Female
  • Femoral Neck Fractures / diagnosis*
  • Hemiarthroplasty / methods*
  • Humans
  • Infection Control* / methods
  • Infection Control* / standards
  • Pandemics*
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / physiopathology
  • Postoperative Period
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Universal Precautions / methods