How Did the COVID-19 Pandemic Affect Trends in Facial Trauma?

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Stanisce, Luke Fisher, Alec H. Choi, Bo Young Newman, Andrew Wang, Ju Lin Koshkareva, Yekaterina
Copyright Year	2021
Abstract	Study Design: Retrospective cohort analysis. Objective: To examine the impact the COVID-19 pandemic and its accompanying societal measures had on the incidence, characteristics, and management of maxillofacial traumatic injuries. Methods: This cohort analysis compared facial trauma injuries presenting to the highest-volume Level I Trauma Center in New Jersey, USA from January 1 to July 31 in 2020 and 2019. Differences in demographics, mechanisms, and interventions were compared between the pandemic period (March 16–July 31, 2020) and the equivalent pre-pandemic date period in 2019 using X2, Fishers Exact, and Mann–Whitney U testing. Results: In total, 616 subjects were included. The daily incidence of facial trauma consults during the 2020 pandemic (1.81 ± 1.1) decreased compared to 2019 (2.15 ± 1.3) (p = 0.042). During the outbreak, there was an increase in the proportion of subjects with positive urine drug screens (21.5% vs. 12.2%; p = 0.011) and injuries related to domestic violence (10.2% vs. 4.5%; p = 0.023). Patients were 30% less likely to be transferred from local hospitals (RR, 0.70 [0.53–0.93]; p = 0.014). Although subjects had a 25% increased risk of presenting with injuries deemed procedural (RR, 1.25 [95% CI, 1.05–1.56]; p = 0.048), a greater proportion were discharged with operative procedures scheduled as outpatients (16.0% vs. 4.9%; p = 0.005). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted both the epidemiology and management of maxillofacial traumatic injuries, perhaps secondary to modifications in personal and community behaviors or the effects on healthcare systems in our region.
Related Links	https://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC8941287&blobtype=pdf
ISSN	19433875
Volume Number	15
DOI	10.1177/19433875211022574
PubMed Central reference number	PMC8941287
Issue Number	2
PubMed reference number	35633770
Journal	Craniomaxillofacial Trauma & Reconstruction [Craniomaxillofac Trauma Reconstr]
e-ISSN	19433883
Language	English
Publisher	SAGE Publications
Publisher Date	2021-06-10
Publisher Place	Sage UK: London, England
Access Restriction	Open
Rights License	© The Author(s) 2021
Subject Keyword	COVID-19 pandemic maxillofacial injuries trauma referral and consultation
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Otorhinolaryngology Oral Surgery Surgery