Long-term patient satisfaction and complication rates after orthognathic surgery: a minimum 3-year follow-up study
摘要
Orthognathic surgery aims to correct dentofacial deformities and improve both function and facial esthetics. This study assessed long-term patient satisfaction and complication rates following bimaxillary orthognathic surgery, using a customized questionnaire to evaluate esthetic, functional, and psychosocial outcomes.
Materials and methodsA total of 126 patients who underwent bimaxillary surgery for Class II or III dentofacial deformities were included in this retrospective cohort study with prospectively collected data and evaluated after a minimum follow-up of 3 years. Surgical procedures included Le Fort I osteotomy, bilateral sagittal split osteotomy, multisegmental osteotomies, genioplasty, and SARPE, with all cases planned and managed by an interdisciplinary team. Patient satisfaction was assessed using a 20-item individualized questionnaire based on validated tools (OQLQ, DAS-59, OHIP-14, VAS).
ResultsHigh levels of long-term satisfaction were reported, particularly in smile appearance and self-confidence. Smile-specific satisfaction remained stable regardless of skeletal class, gender, or complications. Postoperative complications occurred in 11.1% of patients and represented the main observed factor significantly associated with reduced overall satisfaction (p < 0.001). The most frequent complications included mandibular plate infection (n = 5), mandibular osteoperiostitis (n = 4), plate detachment (n = 2), plate fracture (n = 1), pseudoarthrosis (n = 1), and malunion with vicious callus (n = 1). All were successfully managed without long-term sequelae.
ConclusionsOrthognathic surgery provides consistent long-term esthetic and psychosocial benefits. Individualized planning, interdisciplinary management, and the use of a customized satisfaction questionnaire may have contributed to the favorable patient-reported outcomes observed. These findings support the role of orthognathic surgery in enhancing quality of life beyond skeletal correction.