Complications in craniofacial surgery: the Turkish experience

The records of 71 patients who underwent 75 consecutive craniofacial procedures involving a transcranial component have been analyzed retrospectively to assess the incidence and type of complications encountered during the 14-year period of 1985 to 1998 at Ege University Hospital, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The results were compared with those of similar reports from other craniofacial centers. Operations were classified into six groups according to their type to evaluate effectively their complication rates. Complications were also graded in terms of their severity. Serious complications were seen in 12 patients (16.8%), whereas life-threatening complications were seen in 6 patients (8, 4). The mortality rate was 2.7%. It is determined that complication incidence was notably higher in the group that underwent monobloc frontofacial advancement. A decrease in the rate of serious complications occurred with increased experience with the surgery. The results of our study indicate that although craniofacial surgery carries an inherent risk for significant complications, the risk can be minimized and the rate of mortality and major complications kept to an acceptable level by a careful and experienced craniofacial team.