Autoimmune diseases and orthognathic surgery: A case series of 12 patients

Autoimmune diseases result from the immune system attacking native cells and tissues due to the recognition of "self" antigens as foreign antigens. This group of disorders is associated with an increased risk of complications after surgical interventions, as the immune system may cause tissue destruction. The study aimed to investigate the risk of surgical complications in patients with autoimmune diseases, who are at a higher risk of complications due to their condition. Among 886 patients who underwent orthognathic surgery, twelve types of autoimmune diseases with 22 patients were identified. For this case-series study, 12 patients were selected with a follow-up period of at least two years. The surgical procedures were executed by a single surgical team, which involved single or multi-piece Le Fort I osteotomy, Hunsuck/Epker modification of bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO), and/or genioplasty. The recorded outcome variables were postoperative adverse events, including respiratory or blood-related complications, wound infection, neurosensory disturbances, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) complications, and relapse. Only two patients recovered after surgery without any postoperative complications, whereas others had delayed recovery from neurosensory disturbance (5/12), infection (5/12), TMJ complications (2/12), and other complications. The findings of this study suggest that patients with autoimmune diseases undergoing orthognathic surgery are at higher risk of complications, highlighting the importance of careful consideration of patient selection and risk stratification before surgical intervention. The study also emphasizes the importance of close postoperative follow-up to detect and manage complications promptly.