Impact of Lockdown Measures During the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Number and Nature of Trauma Presentations to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of a Level I Trauma Center—A Study

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic triggered unprecedented nationwide regulations aimed primarily at slowing the spread of the virus. The objective of this study was to describe the effect of these regulations on the number and natures of trauma presentations to oral and maxillofacial department of level I trauma center in the city of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of the triage register at Trauma Centre of King George Medical University, Lucknow was conducted, comparing all trauma presentations from March 23, 2020 to July 31, 2020 with those from the preceding 5 months. The number of patients, mechanism of trauma, and severity of illness was recorded and compared. Results: A reduction in the number of trauma cases was recorded for the particular period. The statistical analysis was done with SPSS software (version 1.1). The incidence of maxillofacial trauma was more in males than females. During the study period, data shows that road traffic accidents (91.68%) was the most common cause of trauma followed by fall from height (4.06%) and physical assault (2.34%), respectively. The most common injury was soft tissue lacerations (38.07%), followed by hard tissue injury (LeFort: 20.6%, zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures: 9.44%, parasymphysis: 8.02%), respectively. Conclusion: This study shows that the burden of trauma presenting to the emergency department was decreased during lockdown period by the regulations implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.