204 - Impact of the covid-19 pandemic on physical medicine and rehabilitation department in tunisia

Objectives: Measure the effect of the strategy to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, on the consultation in the physical medicine and rehabilitation(PMR) department in Tunisia.

Design: This is a comparative study, concerning the impact of Covid-19 on the flow of patients, consulted in PRM departments, during the period from March 12, 2020 to march 30, 2021, comparing it to the same period of the year 2019, in the Central East region of Tunisia (Kairouan, Sousse).

Results: A significant decrease of 40% in the flow of patients consulted at the PRM departments in central-eastern Tunisia, during one year at the peak of covid period, compared to the same period of the previous year was documented.

This decrease was generally widespread, notified in two PRM departments: Sousse (39%; p< 10-3) and kairouan (42%; p< 10-3).

It focused on the following groups: children with disability, elderly with musculoskeletal disorders and patients with neurological disorders.

The cancellation of the consultations caused several complications, namely osteo-articular complications (retractions, vicious attitudes..) and vesico-sphincter complications.

Conclusions: The collateral effects of the strategy to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, are «obvious» in PRM practice. A health crisis management plan (including disasters and pandemics) should be better prepared in PRM department, the telerehabilitation and teleconsultation can be the solutions for the future.