Clinical study on the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on mandibular fractures at a regional core hospital for emergency and critical care medicine in Tokyo, Japan

Abstract

AbstractAimMaxillofacial trauma is routinely encountered in oral and maxillofacial surgery, especially in cases of mandibular fractures; however, no clinical studies currently exist on the effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic on mandibular fractures in Japan. This study aimed to analyze the impact of COVID‐19 on mandibular fractures in Tokyo, Japan.MethodsThis retrospective study included patients with mandibular fractures who visited the Department of Oral Surgery at our hospital between January 2014 and December 2022. We conducted a clinico‐statistical study of patients who presented with mandibular fractures before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic.ResultsThe monthly average number of patients presenting with mandibular fractures decreased significantly in the first to third waves of the COVID‐19 pandemic (p = 0.0191) but increased during the fourth to seventh waves. The median patients' age was 46 and 59 years before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic, respectively, and this difference was significant (p = 0.0275). No significant differences were observed in sex, site of injury, cause, or treatment. However, the day of presentation (same day as injury or 1 day later) differed significantly (p = 0.0091) before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic. A significant decrease in concomitant trauma was observed during the COVID‐19 pandemic compared with the prepandemic period (p = 0.0054).ConclusionsThis study is the first to report the impact of COVID‐19 on mandibular fractures in Japan. The findings differ from those obtained from studies in other countries and provide a good basis for understanding COVID‐19 and preparing for future pandemics.