Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Restrictions on Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery Services at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a limitation of health care services to mainly emergency cases and widespread curtailment of routine clinical services. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on maxillofacial and oral surgery (MFOS) services. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, record review study of MFOS patients managed between 26 March and 28 December 2020 (COVID-19 period) and compared these with the same pre-COVID period 1 year previously. Data collected included variables such as patient diagnoses, type of treatment, and treatment setting. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the distribution of diagnoses and treatment procedures, and trends were illustrated using line graphs. Comparisons between the 2 periods were performed using χ2 tests, with a P-value of <0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 2926 patients were consulted during the COVID-19 period, constituting a 41.88% decline (5032 in 2019 versus 2926 in 2020) (P<0.0001). General anesthetic procedures decreased from 453 cases in 2019 to 272 in 2020, a 39.96% reduction (P=0.000448). Trauma-related diagnoses decreased from 249 cases in 2019 to 154 cases in 2020 (P=0.556). The largest drop was observed in alert levels 4 and 5. Trauma was the most frequent diagnosis in the COVID-19 period, followed by sepsis and pathology. The 19- to 35-year age group recorded the highest number of cases across all periods. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of the national lockdown resulted in a substantial decline in MFOS services. Our findings suggest that regulating alcohol sales and distribution can have a positive impact on reducing trauma admissions.