title: Smoking as a significant risk factor for infections after orthognathic surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to determine risk factors for infections after orthognathic surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective cohort study, including files of patients who had undergone 1-jaw orthognathic surgery (ie, bilateral sagittal split osteotomy or Le Fort I osteotomy) during a 7-year period. The outcome variable was surgical site infection. Predictor variables were age, gender, general disease, smoking habit, site of orthognathic surgery, duration of operation, type of osteosynthesis material, and use of postoperative drainage. Data analysis was performed with χ(2) test and logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total 286 patients met the inclusion criteria (174 women, 60.8%). Patients' age range was 17 to 56.5 years (average, 34.8 years). The infection rate was 9.1%. The only statistically significant risk factor for infection was smoking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results emphasize the importance of preoperative patient information about smoking. Orthognathic surgery, because of the long orthodontic preoperative treatment period, provides a good opportunity to encourage and assist patients to cease smoking and thus avoid an increased risk for postoperative infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. marina@hammasfreda.com
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuhlefelt
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Laine
authors.forename: Anna L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Suominen
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lindqvist
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thorén
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000209:etiology; D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D001860:Bone Plates; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006097:Granulation Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056948:Orthognathic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D019340:Osteotomy, Le Fort / Q000379:methods; D059229:Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000209:etiology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D014025:Titanium