The number of orthopaedic procedures performed in Australia are expected to decline in 2020 compared to 2019 due to the COVID-19. However, the outlook for 2021 seems to be improving as the number of COVID-19 cases are declining. This is expected to result in an increase in the number of orthopaedic procedures performed, especially elective ones, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
According to GlobalData’s Medical Intelligence Database, the total number of orthopaedic procedures performed in Australia was about 11 million in 2019. About 55% of the orthopaedic procedures performed in the country, which include arthroscopy, synovectomy, osteotomy, ostectomy, biopsy, fasciotomy and sequestrectomy, are elective.
Anusha Kaushik, Medical Devices Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Declining COVID-19 cases are expected to free up beds and reduce the pressure on the healthcare system. As a result, elective procedures which were delayed or canceled, are expected to resume although slowly in the coming quarters. However, urgent elective procedures are expected to resume first. This is ultimately expected to lead to a rebound in the number of elective procedures performed.”
The length of stay at hospitals can be reduced and telemedicine can be used for postoperative visits by the discharged patients. Increasing use of new sensor-based wearable technologies will help in monitoring and managing the patients.
Ms Kaushik concludes: “The use of technology is expected to result in more elective procedures being performed as doctors get to spend less time on patient consultations.”
Source: GlobalData
