Chronic backache and arthritis were the most common orthopaedic problems during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study conducted by a doctor at the OPD of a tertiary care hospital. Stiffness in the joints and neck pain were among other common problems. In a bid to assess prevailing diseases as well as orthopaedic outpatient load, Bhaktivedanta Hospital and Research Institute in Mira Road analysed the data of 1,605 patients who visited the hospital OPD between July 2020 and December 2020. The study was recently published in the International Journal of Research in Orthopaedics.

Dr Pushkar Borole, author of the study, found that a majority of 438 or 27.29 per cent suffered from acute and chronic backache while 421 or 26 per cent patients reported arthritis. Similarly, 161 patients were reeling from joint stiffness, 158 from ligamentous sprains, 111 neck-related problems, 106 suffered from tendonitis and enthesopathy, while 82 complained of non-specific body aches. Of the remaining patients, 65 were postoperative follow-ups, 38 had bone fractures, 15 had soft tissue injuries, and 10 suffered from neuropathy. Dr Borole said, “We have tried to put forward our study done during COVID-19 to show what the major orthopaedic problems were. Prolonged work-from-home mode can be one of the reasons behind the ortho-related issues.”