Facial Trauma Management during the COVID-19 era: a primer for surgeons

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused more than 6.1 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in more than 188 countries, and has caused more than 370,000 deaths globally as of June 1, 2020. In addition, thousands of healthcare workers have also got infected with the virus. COVID-19 patients release large amounts of infectious viral particles in form of droplets from cough, sneeze and respiratory secretions. These droplets are the main modes of transmission of COVID-19. This mode of transmission puts the healthcare professionals at an increased risk of infection, especially from asymptomatic patients. As a result, during the current pandemic, most routine surgeries all around the world have been suspended, and only emergency surgeries are being performed. Facial trauma surgery is one such emergency surgery that cannot be delayed or suspended even in this pandemic. This review focuses on precautions surgeons have to take while managing facial trauma patients in the emergency department and while performing emergency surgeries on these patients during the current COVID-19 pandemic.