COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ORO-MAXILLO-FACIAL LESIONS BETWEEN PANDEMIC AND POST-PANDEMIC
R. Botros, M. Dragu, M. Diac, D. B. Iliescu
Abstract: Through the imposed social distancing measures, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused important changes in the epidemiological and etiological characteristics of oro-maxillofacial (OMF) trauma.
The objective of our study is to evaluate the epidemiological and etiological changes that have occurred in the evolution of OMF trauma, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Material and methods. 733 forensic expert reports from the IML Iași archive were analyzed statistically, descriptively and using significance tests, divided into two batches: 393 cases from the 2020-2021 pandemic period and 340 from 2022-2023, post-pandemic. A significantly higher incidence of all OMF lesions was identified during the pandemic period, compared to the post-pandemic period, as well as an increased frequency of these traumas among women, the consequence of their involvement in economic, social and cultural activities. The impact, especially on women in rural areas, may be the consequence of imposed social restrictions and specific socio-cultural patterns. In most cases, it was found that young, active age groups under 30 years old were affected, possibly due to young people not respecting the imposed restrictions, with important medical and socio-economic consequences.
Conclusions. The comparative assessment of victims during the pandemic and post-pandemic periods showed a significant reduction in the number of cases during the pandemic. Future epidemiological studies should be conducted on an extended database, with a comparative analysis that also includes the pre-pandemic period. During the COVID-19 pandemic, profound changes occurred in the epidemiology of traumatic oro-maxillo-facial injuries influenced by the restrictive measures implemented by the government. Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, oro-maxillo-facial trauma, epidemiology and etiology of OMF trauma.
 trauma.
<br /> The objective of our study is to evaluate the epidemiological and etiological changes that have occurred in the evolution of OMF trauma, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
<br /> Material and methods. 733 forensic expert reports from the IML Iași archive were analyzed statistically, descriptively and using significance tests, divided into two batches: 393 cases from the 2020-2021 pandemic period and 340 from 2022-2023, post-pandemic. A significantly higher incidence of all OMF lesions was identified during the pandemic period, compared to the post-pandemic period, as well as an increased frequency of these traumas among women, the consequence of their involvement in economic, social and cultural activities. The impact, especially on women in rural areas, may be the consequence of imposed social restrictions and specific socio-cultural patterns. In most cases, it was found that young, active age groups under 30 years old were affected, possibly due to young people not respecting the imposed restrictions, with important medical and socio-economic consequences.
<br /> Conclusions. The comparative assessment of victims during the pandemic and post-pandemic periods showed a significant reduction in the number of cases during the pandemic. Future epidemiological studies should be conducted on an extended database, with a comparative analysis that also includes the pre-pandemic period. During the COVID-19 pandemic, profound changes occurred in the epidemiology of traumatic oro-maxillo-facial injuries influenced by the restrictive measures implemented by the government.&redirect_uri=http://rjlm.ro/index.php/arhiv/1037)