Analysis of Maxillofacial Traumas at Thrace Region amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Aim:Pandemic caused by Coronavirus disease-2019 has created an unpredicted situation. Due to governmental regulations, a significant amount of health provider task force was relocated for pandemic management. This restrictions put forth a need for pragmatic solutions to cope with the demand of non-pandemic health management. Remote counselling was among these solutions. In this study, we aimed to share our remote counselling approach, also to analyze the maxillofacial trauma (MFT) patients operated during the first year of pandemic, and to compare these results with the results of the previous year.Materials and Methods:Beginning from May 11th, 2020 to May 11th, 2021, MFT patients were evaluated retrospectively. For comparison, patients referred within the same dates of the previous year were also evaluated. Two groups were constituted as pre-pandemic and pandemic. Groups were compared for demographics, affected facial region, operation performed as emergency or elective, time spanned from referral to surgery, and operative complications. Statistical significance was set as p0.05). Time spanned from referral to surgery was significantly shorter for the pandemic group in which the remote counselling approach was utilized (p<0.001).Conclusion:Remote counselling approach shortens the time spanned from referral to surgery among MFT patients referred during pandemic. Telemedicine may be used as a powerful tool for the management of MFT patients.

Keywords

• maxillofacial injuries
• telemedicine
• covid-19