Effect of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic on the occurrence of maxillofacial fractures in a Finnish Tertiary Trauma Centre

Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the occurrence of facial fractures in a tertiary trauma centre.

Materials and methods

All facial fracture patients evaluated by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon during the first stage of the pandemic in spring 2020 were included in the study and compared to the corresponding periods in 2017 and 2018. Differences in age, sex, timespan from accident to diagnosis of facial fracture, injury mechanism, fracture type, treatment method, associated injuries (AIs), and alcohol consumption at the time of injury were analyzed between the forementioned time periods.

Results

The total number of patients (n = 107) during the COVID restriction period did not differ from the previous years (116 and 113 patients in 2017 and 2018, respectively, p=.368). Injury mechanism was less often assault during 2020 compared with previous years (14.0% in 2020 versus 31.8% in 2018 and 30.2% in 2017). Non-intracranial AIs were more common in the COVID period (28% in 2020 versus 14.2% in 2018 and 21.6%). The distribution was statistically significant (p=.041). Alcohol use prior to injury varied between years (p=.023). Alcohol was more often related to the injuries in 2020 compared to the previous years.

Conclusions

COVID restrictions did not affect the overall facial fracture occurrence, but there was a significant decrease in assaults. The proportion of alcohol-related injuries did not decrease despite restrictions.

Keywords:

• Oral and maxillofacial trauma
• aetiology
• COVID-19
• associated injuries

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded with resources provided by the Helsinki University Hospital Fund.