Review of patient experience with bilateral sagittal split osteotomies as a day case procedure

Historically, patients who received bilateral sagittal split osteotomies (BSSO) required an inpatient admission for at least one night. Since March 2015, the Oral and Maxillofacial Department at the Royal Gwent Hospital has performed bilateral sagittal split osteotomies (BSSO) as a day case procedure for their medically and socially fit patients. Our team's service evaluation by Davies et al (2018) for this procedure, demonstrated that this could be done both routinely and successfully, whilst conforming to national day case procedural standards. The aim of this satisfaction survey was to evaluate this procedure from a patient's perspective, to further consolidate our results from 2018. The forty-five patients who underwent day case BSSO (DCBSSO) between February 2015 and February 2020 were retrospectively identified and deemed eligible for inclusion. Participation involved completion of a 10-part questionnaire via telephone consultation. Patients were asked questions focussing on their experience of discharge timing, management of postoperative symptoms, and overall recovery at home. Twenty-four patients consented to partake in the survey (response rate of 73%). Twenty-three (96%) were extremely happy to be discharged the day of their surgery and felt that the timing of discharge was appropriate. Only 17% of patients experienced discomfort overnight and 96% of these stated they could manage their symptoms at home. From this survey, we can confirm that the majority of patients receiving DCBSSO at the Royal Gwent Hospital were happy to be discharged the day of their surgery and recover at home.