Carbon impact of orthognathic surgery

Climate change is a threat to humankind that cannot be ignored and requires efforts to be made in every sector, including the health care industry. Operating rooms are understood to contribute significantly to emissions. The aim of this study was to assess the carbon footprint of orthognathic surgery in a regional specialized centre at the University Hospital of Lille (CHU Lille) in France. All consecutive patients who underwent orthognathic surgery between January 2 and July 2, 2024 were included retrospectively. A life cycle assessment (LCA) of orthognathic surgery was performed to estimate its overall carbon footprint. Patient transportation, medical devices, patient consumables, the sterilization process, medications, operating room electricity consumption, operating room heating, anaesthetic gases, and consultations were included. Staff transportation, hospitalization, cleaning, reprocessing of linen, and water consumption were excluded. Overall, 122 patients underwent orthognathic surgery in CHU Lille during the study period. The mean ± standard deviation carbon emissions for orthognathic surgery was 209.00 ± 149.92 kgCO₂eq. Patient transportation represented 66.4-70.4% of the overall emissions. Orthognathic surgery results in the emission of non-negligible amounts of carbon dioxide equivalent. The carbon footprint of other procedures requires evaluation, and actions need to be taken to reduce their impact.