title: Risk factors for wound infection after oral cancer surgery.
abstract: Wound infection is a common complication after oral cancer surgery and may result in significant functional morbidity, poor cosmetic results and prolonged hospitalization. The purpose of this study was to identify the most important factors contributing to operative wound infections in patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer. A retrospective review of complications in 111 patients after oral and oropharynx cancer surgery with an immediate reconstruction is presented. Potential risk factors for infection were categorized based on the patient, the disease, and the treatment. Flap-related complications developed in 73 patients (65.76%). Wound infection occurred in 69 (62.12%), and a fistula in 10 patients (9%). Other complications developed in 41.44% of the patients. The analysis of risk factors for the development of infection showed the following factors to be significant: male sex, T and S tumour stages, reconstruction, tracheostomy, nasogastric tube or gastrostomy feeding and extent of surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Rijeka, Tome Strizica 3, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia. kbc-mfk@ri.htnet.hr
authors.forename: Margita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belusic-Gobic
authors.forename: Marijan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Car
authors.forename: Mirna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Juretic
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cerovic
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gobic
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Golubovic
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology*