Orthognathic surgery practices in Italy: a comparative analysis with the existing literature

Recent advancements in orthognathic surgery have introduced innovations in surgical techniques and in preoperative and postoperative care, with an increasing emphasis on patient-centered approaches. Our study described the current practice patterns in Italy, and compared our findings with the existing literature, particularly a recent survey conducted in France. The questionnaire from the French study was translated into Italian, and a 46-item electronic survey was distributed. In total, 66 responses were received. Of the respondents, 78.8 % were male, and 60.6 % reported over 20 years of practical experience. The primary indication for surgery was that of occlusal disorders (92.4 %). An intermediate splint was used for surgical transfer by 90.9 % of surgeons, while virtual planning was used by 40.9 %. A maxilla-first approach was adopted by 71.2 % of surgeons. For bimaxillary surgery combined with genioplasty, the most frequently reported operating time was 3-4 h (57.6 %), and the typical hospital stay duration was 3-4 nights (53 %). Physiotherapy was primarily advised for temporomandibular joint movement re-education (69.7 %). The most commonly reported complication was trigeminal hypoesthesia (53 %). Current orthognathic surgery practices in two European countries and the USA were compared. Further studies are needed to comprehensively enrich the existing dataset and support the development of unified European guidelines.