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Infections after sagittal split osteotomy: a retrospective analysis of 336 patients
Carl Bouchard1, Michelle Lalancette2
1Assistant Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Québec, Université Laval, Hôpital de l'Enfant-Jésus, Quebec, Quebec, Canada.
Summary
The infection rate following bilateral sagittal split osteotomy was 11.3%. Older age was associated with a higher risk of infection after this common jaw surgery.
Area of Science:
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Surgical Outcomes Research
Background:
- Bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) is a common surgical procedure for correcting jaw deformities.
- Understanding postoperative infection rates is crucial for patient safety and optimizing surgical protocols.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of postoperative infections after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy.
- To identify potential risk factors associated with infections following BSSO.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case series involving 336 patients with a minimum 3-month follow-up.
- Outcome variable: postoperative infections. Predictor variables included surgical details, comorbidities, smoking, and antibiotic use.
- Statistical analyses included descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression (P < .05).
Main Results:
- The overall infection rate was 11.3% (38 out of 336 patients).
- Hardware removal (plates, screws) was necessary in 3% of cases.
- A statistically significant association was found between older age and increased infection risk (OR, 1.04; P = .02).
Conclusions:
- The infection rate observed in this study is comparable to expected rates for clean-contaminated surgical procedures.
- Rigid fixation techniques may potentially reduce the need for hardware removal after BSSO.
