How the COVID-19 pandemic changed the Plastic Surgery activity in a regional referral center in Northen Italy

The Covid 19 epidemic has modified the way that plastic surgeons can treat
their patients. At our hospital all elective surgery was canceled and only the
more severe cases were admitted. The outpatient department activity has
been reduced also. We present the number and diagnoses of patients, treated
as in- and out-patients, during seven weeks from the onset of the epidemic,
comparing our activity from the lockdown of elective surgery with the numbers
and diagnoses observed during the same weeks of last year.
Finally we underline the importance of using telemedicine and web-based
tools to transmit images of lesions that need the surgeon’s evaluation, and
can be used by the patient to keep in touch with a doctor during the
distressing time of delay of the expected procedure.