Complications of Orthognathic Surgery

Although orthognathic surgery has now become a routine part of oral and maxillofacial surgery practice, concern and apprehension about major jaw surgery continues to plague the minds of many orthodontists faced with the prospect of referring their patients for surgery. Like all surgery, complications also occur with orthognathic procedures, most of which can be prevented by thorough planning and careful surgery. In this article a brief overview of the potential complications associated with orthognathic surgery is presented for the benefit of orthodontists involved in the management of patients undergoing combined orthodontic-surgical treatment.