Spine surgeons at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia developed a framework for prioritizing pediatric spine surgeries during the pandemic.
The surgeons published recommendations in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, proposing four categories:
Class 1: Emergency surgeries that must happen right away
Class 2: Urgent surgeries that should happen in the short term
Class 3: Semi-urgent surgeries that could be delayed several months but would have suboptimal outcomes
Class 4: Elective surgeries that require a prolonged ICU stay, use more healthcare resources or involve children with competing medical conditions and could be delayed six months
Surgeries are most urgent for Class 1 patients and least urgent for Class 4 patients. The authors also said it may be necessary for surgeons to schedule prolonged hours or perform surgeries during the weekend to ensure patients receive the care they need while also following any elective surgery bans and social distancing requirements.