The Impact of COVID-19 on the Treatment of Craniomaxillofacial Trauma and Head and Neck Infections

Abstract

There is no shortage of news, information, and guidelines with regards to novel coronavirus (COVID-19). However, there is none yet that is specific to the treatment of patients who have sustained trauma or active head and neck infections—frequently encountered from oropharyngeal sources such as peritonsillar abscess or odontogenic infections. The COVID outbreak has not diminished the incidence of these conditions, and in fact has exacerbated access to care by the closing of urgent care treatment centers as well as private dental offices. The purpose of this article is to outline a protocol to protect health care providers in the provision of this care for at-risk patient populations.

Keywords

• craniomaxillofacial trauma
• odontogenic infection
• covid
• ppe