Transoral robotic surgery: safety, complications, and oncologic outcomes from a maxillofacial surgery unit experience

Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is widely used for selected head and neck conditions and is often perceived as an otolaryngology-driven technique. Dedicated reports from oral and maxillofacial surgery units remain less represented.

We retrospectively reviewed adult patients treated with TORS between August 2019 and February 2024. Demographic, surgical, histopathologic and oncologic variables were collected, including complications, occult primary work-up performance, recurrence and survival outcomes.

Fifty-five patients underwent 59 TORS procedures. Immediate complications included acute dysphagia (7.2%), wound dehiscence (7.2%) and infection (3.6%); persistent dysphagia occurred in 1.8%. Occult primary work-up represented 18.2% of patients, with primary identification in 60.0%. Recurrence occurred in 10.9%; 5-year recurrence-free survival was 0.810 (95% CI 0.510-0.936) and 5-year overall survival was 0.886 (95% CI 0.677-0.963).

TORS performed within an oral and maxillofacial surgery setting showed acceptable perioperative morbidity and oncologic outcomes consistent with prevailing standards, supporting its integration into maxillofacial oncologic practice and training.