ORIGINAL: Impact of COVID-19 on Management and Outcome of Cervicofacial Infections in a Maxillofacial Centre

West Afr J Med . 2023 Feb 28;40(2):143-147.

Abstract

Abstract  in English, French

Introduction: Cervicofacial infections (CFI) are life-threatening and constitute some of the common emergencies seen by the oral and maxillofacial surgeon on a regular basis. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in reduced human activities for most of 2020 including the first worldwide lockdown. At the height of the pandemic, it was expected that the number of patients presenting with cervicofacial infections would drop as with most health conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of COVID-19 on the management and outcome of cervicofacial infections in a tertiary maxillofacial institution.

Patients and methods: A retrospective analysis of patients who presented at the Maxillofacial clinic with cervicofacial infections and were subsequently admitted into the ward during the lockdown (2020) was compared with those of the previous year (2019) and the year after (2021).

Results: The total number of patients seen and admitted with cervicofacial infections in 2020 was 39(31.2%) which was lower than that seen the preceding year 48(38.4%) but higher than 38(30.4%) of the year after. 116 patients were treated while nine patients left hospital without treatment. All patients presented with extensive cervicofacial infections, involving more than three fascial spaces and were treated using parenteral antibiotics with surgical incision and drainage under local anesthesia. There were more deaths in 2020 (n=10) than in the preceding year (n=8) and the year after (n=7).

Conclusion: A high percentage of CFI was admitted during COVID-19 period compared to the previous and following years. Involvement of multiple fascial spaces was also noted.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cervicofacial infection; Impact; Lockdown; Management.

B Fomete ¹, E T Adebayo ², R Agbara ³, E A Ikekhuame ¹, K U Omeje ⁴, G Nasir ¹