Impact of Body Mass Index on the Outcomes of Open Reduction for Mandibular Fractures

Abstract

Purpose: Little is known about the impact of body mass index (BMI) on the postoperative outcomes of open reduction for mandibular fractures. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between BMI and short-term outcomes of surgery for mandibular fractures.

Materials and methods: We searched the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database to identify patients who underwent open reduction for mandibular fractures from July 2010 to March 2013. BMI was divided into three groups: less than 18.5 kg/m(2) (underweight), 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m(2) (normal weight), and 25 kg/m(2) or greater (overweight). The outcomes included postoperative complication rates, duration of anesthesia, length of stay, and total costs. We analyzed the relationships between BMI and the outcomes by multivariable regression analyses.

Results: We analyzed 309 patients who underwent open reduction for mandibular fractures during the study period. The group with a BMI of 25 kg/m(2) or greater had a significantly longer hospital stay (3.8 days; 95% confidence interval, 0.5 to 7.1 days, P = .03) than the group with a normal BMI. BMI was not significantly associated with duration of anesthesia, postoperative complication rates, or total costs.

Conclusions: Regarding open reduction for mandibular fractures, overweight status may be associated with a prolonged length of stay, but may have little impact on operating time, postoperative morbidity, or overall costs.