Infected screws in patients treated by mandibular sagittal split osteotomy.
OBJECTIVE
The relationship of third molar extraction at the time of mandibular sagittal split surgery to infection or exposure of the rigid fixation hardware was studied.


METHODS
The records of 83 patients who had sagittal split surgery between July 1987 and July 1991 were reviewed. The groups were divided into those who did or did not have third molar extraction during sagittal split surgery. Those patients who developed infection or exposure of their hardware were identified.


RESULTS
Of the 83 patients, 15 had infection or exposure of their hardware. Eleven of them (73.3%) had third molar extraction at the time of sagittal split surgery. In the uninfected/unexposed group, 26 of 68 (38.2%) had third molar extraction during their operation. These differences were highly significant (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows a definite relationship between infected and exposed hardware after sagittal split surgery and intraoperative removal of third molars, and suggests that the third molars should be removed well in advance of surgery to reduce this complication.
Lacey
M S
MS
Department of Surgery, Victoria Hospital, London, Ontario, Canada.
Colcleugh
R G
RG
D000328:Adult; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology*; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*