COVID-19 Influenced the Epidemiology of Facial Trauma: A Narrative Review, 2020–2024

The implementation of a range of social distancing and lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic were seen to impact on the well-established epidemiology of facial trauma. This narrative review aimed to synthesize the international findings of this effect by evaluating the previously published...

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Main Authors: Gary R. Hoffman, Sophie K. M. Kelly
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:COVID
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8112/5/5/69
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author Gary R. Hoffman
Sophie K. M. Kelly
author_facet Gary R. Hoffman
Sophie K. M. Kelly
author_sort Gary R. Hoffman
collection DOAJ
description The implementation of a range of social distancing and lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic were seen to impact on the well-established epidemiology of facial trauma. This narrative review aimed to synthesize the international findings of this effect by evaluating the previously published literature. Relevant studies published between 1 January 2020, and 31 December 2024, were identified using four databases: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and SAGE Journals. A total of 63 studies across 19 countries were included. Descriptive analysis found that these were predominantly undertaken within oral and maxillofacial surgery departments (<i>n</i> = 48), as a single-center cohort study (<i>n</i> = 56), including greater than 500 patients (<i>n</i> = 22), with a duration of study between 1 and 52 weeks (<i>n</i> = 52). The principal finding was that 83% (<i>n</i> = 52) of studies reported a significant decrease in the number of facial trauma presentations. Falls (<i>n</i> = 35) in a domestic setting (<i>n</i> = 13) were identified, respectively, as the predominant etiology and place of injury. This is an out-of-the-ordinary observation when compared to routinely encountered causes. This study demonstrated that social distancing measures significantly influenced the epidemiology of facial trauma presentations that occurred during the pandemic.
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spelling doaj-art-e591b3ab3777414da98e913554401a8b2025-08-20T03:14:41ZengMDPI AGCOVID2673-81122025-05-01556910.3390/covid5050069COVID-19 Influenced the Epidemiology of Facial Trauma: A Narrative Review, 2020–2024Gary R. Hoffman0Sophie K. M. Kelly1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW 2305, AustraliaCritical Care Unit, The Memorial Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5006, AustraliaThe implementation of a range of social distancing and lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic were seen to impact on the well-established epidemiology of facial trauma. This narrative review aimed to synthesize the international findings of this effect by evaluating the previously published literature. Relevant studies published between 1 January 2020, and 31 December 2024, were identified using four databases: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and SAGE Journals. A total of 63 studies across 19 countries were included. Descriptive analysis found that these were predominantly undertaken within oral and maxillofacial surgery departments (<i>n</i> = 48), as a single-center cohort study (<i>n</i> = 56), including greater than 500 patients (<i>n</i> = 22), with a duration of study between 1 and 52 weeks (<i>n</i> = 52). The principal finding was that 83% (<i>n</i> = 52) of studies reported a significant decrease in the number of facial trauma presentations. Falls (<i>n</i> = 35) in a domestic setting (<i>n</i> = 13) were identified, respectively, as the predominant etiology and place of injury. This is an out-of-the-ordinary observation when compared to routinely encountered causes. This study demonstrated that social distancing measures significantly influenced the epidemiology of facial trauma presentations that occurred during the pandemic.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8112/5/5/69COVID-19social distancinglockdown lawsepidemiology alterationsfacial injuryfacial trauma
spellingShingle Gary R. Hoffman
Sophie K. M. Kelly
COVID-19 Influenced the Epidemiology of Facial Trauma: A Narrative Review, 2020–2024
COVID
COVID-19
social distancing
lockdown laws
epidemiology alterations
facial injury
facial trauma
title COVID-19 Influenced the Epidemiology of Facial Trauma: A Narrative Review, 2020–2024
title_full COVID-19 Influenced the Epidemiology of Facial Trauma: A Narrative Review, 2020–2024
title_fullStr COVID-19 Influenced the Epidemiology of Facial Trauma: A Narrative Review, 2020–2024
title_full_unstemmed COVID-19 Influenced the Epidemiology of Facial Trauma: A Narrative Review, 2020–2024
title_short COVID-19 Influenced the Epidemiology of Facial Trauma: A Narrative Review, 2020–2024
title_sort covid 19 influenced the epidemiology of facial trauma a narrative review 2020 2024
topic COVID-19
social distancing
lockdown laws
epidemiology alterations
facial injury
facial trauma
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8112/5/5/69
work_keys_str_mv AT garyrhoffman covid19influencedtheepidemiologyoffacialtraumaanarrativereview20202024
AT sophiekmkelly covid19influencedtheepidemiologyoffacialtraumaanarrativereview20202024