Diagnostic-therapeutic strategies in oral and maxillofacial surgery outpatients during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: The epidemic of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection, declared a global pandemic by WHO on March 9th, 2020, became a “public health emergency of international concern” with a great impact on economy and society. It has also interfered with ordinary medical practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery seriously. In order to protect oral and maxillofacial surgery medical staff from 2019-nCoV infection during the outbreak period, this paper suggests the necessary medical protective measures for oral and maxillofacial surgery outpatient. METHODS: From February 29th to April 30th, 2020, outpatient services were collected for all patients who have been visited in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Outpatient of “Magna Graecia” University of Catanzaro. Patients’ age, sex and pathology were taken into consideration; also all were subjected to telephone triage and upon admission. RESULTS: A total of 61 patients, 31 with trauma, 24 with cancer and six with other non-differentiable condition, have been treated. All patient’s swabs have been resulted negative for COVID-19 and the medical staff, while maintaining social distancing, has been used telemedicine. CONCLUSIONS: The maxillofacial surgeons are not frontline figures in the management of the epidemic, but they are indispensable in treating of urgent/emergency oro-maxillofacial diseases. Therefore, it is necessary, a safe diagnostic-therapeutic strategy that facilitates the return to a complete range of procedures, once the pandemic peak has been overcome. (Cite this article as: Caruso D, Barca I, Giofrè E, Novembre D, Cristofaro MG. Diagnostic-therapeutic strategies in oral and maxillofacial surgery outpatients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eur J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2020;4:73-8. DOI: 10.23736/S2532-3466.20.00219-2) Key words: Coronavirus; COVID-19; Pandemics; Oral surgery; Patient care management; Telemedicine.