Current orthognathic surgery practices in Taiwan: A questionnaire survey among board-certified oral and maxillofacial...

Orthognathic surgery (OgS) has substantially evolved in Taiwan; however, few comprehensive surveys have been conducted. This study investigated the contemporary clinical landscape and practice patterns of Taiwanese oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMSs).

This cross-sectional anonymous questionnaire study, consisting of 48 questions covering 5 major domains, was conducted in Taiwanese OMSs between August 22 and September 8, 2024.

A total of 94 valid responses were collected. 71.28% respondents practiced in medical centers and 52.13% were located in northern Taiwan. Whereas 51.06% of active surgeons performed 1-5 cases annually, a distinct high-volume subgroup (9.0%) performed over 30 cases per year. These high-volume practitioners were distributed across major metropolitan areas, with 50% practicing in medical centers and 50% having 1-10 years of experience. Le Fort I one-piece osteotomy and sagittal split osteotomy with rigid fixation were the predominant surgical approaches, whereas vertical ramus osteotomy with nonrigid fixation was more commonly preferred by senior surgeons. In aesthetic surgery, hard-tissue procedures predominated, particularly isolated mandibular contouring. Regarding postoperative care, shorter hospital stays (2-3 days) and antibiotic courses (<3 days) were commonly observed and were associated with exceptionally low reported infection rates (<1%). Furthermore, more that 90% of the surgeons incorporated three-dimensional digital planning into preoperative workflows.

The orthognathic and aesthetic surgical practices of Taiwanese OMSs generally reflect current global trends. The low reported postoperative infection and complication rates also support the reliability of specialty training in Taiwan. These findings may provide a benchmark for future comparative studies.