# COVID-19 Lockdowns and Hospitalisations for Oro-Facial Trauma Among Adults in Australia and the United Kingdom

## TL;DR

This study found that hospitalizations for facial injuries dropped during the pandemic lockdowns in Australia and the UK, and did not fully return to normal even after restrictions eased.

## Contribution

The study reveals lasting behavioral changes post-lockdown and the impact of public health measures on oro-facial trauma rates.

## Key findings

- Hospitalization rates for oro-facial trauma dropped by 38.8% in Australia and 35.7% in the UK during lockdown.
- Post-lockdown rates remained lower than pre-lockdown levels, with 35.5% reduction in Australia and 25.1% in the UK.
- Major trauma rates increased post-lockdown, but minor trauma rates did not show significant change.

## Abstract

Objectives: Oro-facial trauma affects physical, psychological, and social well-being. This study assesses changes in oro-facial trauma hospitalisation rates among adults during the pre-lockdown period, ‘lockdown year’, and post-lockdown period in Australia and the United Kingdom (UK). The findings provide insights into healthcare delivery and resource allocation during public health emergencies to inform future preventive strategies. Methods: Hospitalisation data for adults (aged 20+) with oro-facial trauma, classified using ICD-10 codes, were collected. Age-standardised rates (ASRs) per 100,000 population were calculated for each period. Comparative analyses evaluated hospitalisation rates during the ‘lockdown year’ relative to three years before and after. The 11 oro-facial trauma ICD codes were grouped into major and minor trauma to evaluate differential impacts. Results: This study highlighted a statistically significant reduction in oro-facial trauma hospitalisation rates during the ‘lockdown year’ in both Australia (38.8%) and the UK (35.7%) compared to the pre-lockdown period. Although rates increased post-lockdown, they remained lower than pre-lockdown levels, with a 35.5% reduction in Australia and a 25.1% reduction in the UK. Additionally, while the ASR significantly increased for major trauma in the post-lockdown years compared to the lockdown year, the increase for minor trauma was not statistically significant in both countries. Conclusions: COVID-19 lockdowns led to a significant reduction in oro-facial trauma hospitalisations. Post-lockdown rates increased as activities resumed but did not return to pre-lockdown levels, suggesting lasting behavioural shifts. These findings highlight the role of external factors (e.g., mobility and social behaviour) in oro-facial trauma rates and can inform targeted preventive strategies for high-risk periods.