"Beyond the scale: body mass index as a hidden player in post-extraction complications"

Body mass index (BMI) is gaining recognition as a factor influencing surgical healing, but its precise effect on post-extraction complications is still not fully understood. This study investigated the association between BMI category and a comprehensive spectrum of post-extraction outcomes.

This prospective observational study was conducted on 247 patients stratified into four BMI groups: underweight (n = 52), healthy weight (n = 68), overweight(n = 73), and obese (n = 54). Outcome variables included post-operative pain measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 24 h, 72 h, one week, and two weeks; facial swelling at 72 h; a wound healing score ranging from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent); Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHIP-14); dry socket; and post-extraction infection. Statistical analysis included Shapiro-Wilk normality testing, Kruskal-Wallis with Dunn post-hoc (Bonferroni correction), Chi-square, Spearman rank correlation, binary logistic regression, and multilinear regression, performed using SPSS v. 31.0. software.

All continuous outcomes differed significantly across BMI groups (Kruskal-Wallis tests, all p < 0.001). The largest effect was observed for wound healing score (H = 144.564 ,η² = 0.583): the healthy weight group achieved predominantly excellent healing (72.1% of score 5) while overweight and obese patients showed predominantly poor-to-fair healing (87.7% and 87.1% scores 1-2, respectively). BMI was the strongest Spearman correlate of wound healing (ρ = -0.564, p < 0.001) and a significant independent predictor in logistic regression for dry socket( OR = 1.306; 95% CI :1.195-1.427, p < 0.001) and infection(OR = 1.534; 95% CI: 1.187-1.984 ; p = 0.01). Multiple linear regression confirmed BMI as the primary predictor of wound healing score (B =-0.118, p < 0.001; R² = 0.339) and OHIP-14 impairment (B =- 0.117 p < 0.01; R^{2 =} 0.280).

Elevated BMI is a significant, independent predictor of adverse post-extraction. Healthcare providers should include BMI in pre-extraction risk assessments and consider BMI-specific post-operative management protocols to optimize patient outcomes.