COVID-19 social-distancing measures altered the epidemiology of facial injury: a United Kingdom-Australia comparative study

The purpose of this study was to undertake a retrospective cross-sectional analysis to compare the frequency and characteristics of facial injury presentations at a UK and an Australian tertiary referral hospital during the implementation of COVID-19 social-distancing measures. The primary predictor variables were a heterogeneous set of factors grouped into logical categories: demographics, injury mechanisms and site, and management. The primary outcome variable was the presentation of a hard or soft tissue facial injury. A descriptive statistical analysis was undertaken on the assembled data. The study found a clinical and statistically significant reduction in the frequency (absolute number) of facial injuries at each study site. In addition, a striking similarity common in both countries was an increase in the number of facial injuries due to falls and a reduction in facial injuries due to interpersonal violence. Conservative (non-operative) management of facial injury increased at both sites. The implementation of COVID-19 social-distancing public health measures, which aimed to limit community transmission of the coronavirus, had a secondary serendipitous effect of reducing the frequency of facial injury presentations and altering their epidemiological characteristics at both a UK and Australian tertiary referral hospital.