Published online May 26, 2020. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v8.i10.1756
Peer-review started: April 16, 2020
First decision: April 24, 2020
Revised: April 27, 2020
Accepted: May 16, 2020
Article in press: May 16, 2020
Published online: May 26, 2020
Processing time: 38 Days and 20.9 Hours
Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in December 2019 in China, various measures have been adopted in order to attenuate the impact of the virus on the population. With regard to spine surgery, French physicians are devoted to take place in the national plan against COVID-19, the French Spine Surgery Society therefore decided to elaborate specific guidelines for management of spinal disorders during COVID-19 pandemic in order to prioritize management of patients. A three levels stratification was elaborated with Level I: Urgent surgical indications, Level II: Surgical indications associated to a potential loss of chance for the patient and Level III: Non-urgent surgical indications. We also report French experience in a COVID-19 cluster region illustrated by two clinical cases. We hope that the guidelines formulated by the French Spine Surgery Society and the experience of spine surgeons from a cluster region will be helpful in order optimizing the management of patients with urgent spinal conditions during the pandemic.
Core tip: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to a large reorganization of health systems. French Spine Surgery Society established guidelines for management of spinal disorders during COVID-19 pandemic in order to prioritize management of patients.