Infection following intraoral surgical correction of dentofacial deformities: a review of 140 consecutive cases.

Prophylactic antibiotics are often administered during orthognathic surgery to prevent infection. A total of 140 consecutive patients who underwent "clean" intraoral maxillary and mandibular orthognathic surgery and received antibiotics in the preoperative period are reviewed with respect to postoperative infection. In four patients, infections developed, two of which were related to alloplastic implants. The microorganisms cultured from the infections were species not normally found in oral infections. One patient had an antibiotic-induced anaphylactic reaction. The theory and applicability of antibiotic prophylaxis for intraoral orthognathic surgery are discussed.