[Surgical site infections in orthognathic surgery and risk factors associated]

Surgical site infections (SSI) in orthognathic surgery are considered infrequent and without any important consequence for the final operative result. A procedure of epidemiological surveillance was implemented to determine the frequency of SSI in orthognathic surgery and to better document their risk factors.

This prospective study included all interventions in our orthognathic surgery department between September 1(st) 2006 and August 31(st) 2007. SSI and their risk factors were documented for up to one year of follow-up. Risk factors were correlated to SSI using monovariate and multivariate analyses.

Ten (7%) out of 143 consecutive interventions in orthognathic surgery were complicated by a SSI. All the SSI were secondary to a mandibular ramus sagittal split osteotomy. The two significantly correlated risk factors with the SSI in multivariate analysis were the length of surgery and the type of antibiotic prophylaxis.

This rate of SSI correlates to published data. To decrease this rate, it would be necessary, in association with the usual precautionary measures, to limit the operating time and to recommend an antibioprophylaxis combining amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid (Augmentin).