LAUSR

The aim of this comparative study was to evaluate patient reported outcome measures (PROMS) using the EQ5D-5L and EQ5D-5L visual analogue scale (VAS) following elective shoulder and elbow orthopaedic list delays arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients on the elective waiting list for more than 26 weeks were included in the study. Telephone interviews were conducted utilizing EQ5D-5L and the EQ5D-5L VAS data at the time of addition to the waiting list and current status. 75 out of 324 screened patients were eligible for inclusion. 62 (82.7%) patients still wanted to proceed with their planned procedure (group A) while 13 (17.3%) patients no longer wanted to proceed with surgery (group B). There was no statistically significant difference in the mean age, gender, initial trial of conservative treatment and limb laterality between these groups (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the mean duration of being on the waiting list between groups A and B (40.4 +/-19 weeks versus 62.9 +/-17.5 weeks respectively). Furthermore, statistically significant differences (P<0.05) in the current EQ5D-5L VAS scores were observed between these groups (52.4 versus 65.8 respectively). This study has shown that majority of patients on elective shoulder and elbow orthopaedic lists with prolonged waiting list delays and improved EQ5D-5L scores are likely to decline the planned procedure and vice versa. Nevertheless, the unplanned “watchful waiting” caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and leading to patients deciding to decline surgery, is not a substitute for timely planned surgery to alleviate patients’ suffering.