Background: Orthognathic surgery is performed to correct dentofacial and craniofacial deformities and improve facial aesthetics, occlusal relations, and the functionality of the stomatognathic apparatus. However, complications in orthognathic surgery may occur at any time during the course of treatment: in the preoperative judgment and planning, during perioperative orthodontic care, or intraoperatively. The aim of the current study was to survey oral and maxillofacial surgeons regarding the main complications of orthognathic surgery.
Methods: One hundred oral and maxillofacial surgeons with at least 5 years of experience in dentofacial management were interviewed during a Brazilian national oral and maxillofacial surgery meeting by 2 calibrated postgraduate students, using a questionnaire addressing complications of orthognathic surgery.
Results: No significant differences were found regarding educational background or postgraduate degrees among the oral and maxillofacial surgeons (P > 0.05). A total of 28.0% had no experience with vertical osteotomy of the mandibular ramus, 35.0% had no experience with subapical osteotomy of the mandible, and 4.0% had no experience with genioplasty. All participants had experience with sagittal osteotomy of the mandibular ramus. Among mandible procedures, the most common complication was nerve damage, followed by unfavorable osteotomy. The most common Le Fort I complication was also nerve damage (40%), followed by hemorrhage (29%). Regarding osteosynthesis fixation, fractures of the material were more frequent in the mandible (23%) and maxilla (10%).
Conclusions: Most oral and maxillofacial surgeons experienced similar orthognathic surgery complications to those reported in retrospective studies.