The Effect of Antibiotics and Corticosteroids on Orthognathic Surgery: A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Perioperative systemic corticosteroids are widely applied in orthognathic surgery so as to prevent postoperative complications; nevertheless the beneficial effects of this practice are questionable and concerns over its potential side effects are growing. Moreover, prescribing postoperative antibiotic regimes is considered a controversial issue. The present systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to examine the effectiveness of antibiotics and corticosteroids in orthognathic surgery. Materials and Methods: The electronically searched resources between 2010 and 2019 included a direct scientific article; PubMed, Wiley online library, Google Scholar, Up-to-date, and the keywords used comprised antibiotics, corticosteroids, orthognathic surgery, orthognathic. The articles more relevant to the subjects were selected. Results: Only four of the 11 papers included in the primary evaluation satisfied the eligibility criteria and were used in the final review in studies that used antibiotics in orthognathic surgery. The remaining 7 articles were included in the final review in studies using corticosteroids in orthognathic surgery. A total of 622 patients, aged at least 30.5 years, were included in the 4 studies using antibiotics. Conclusion: The findings of the present systematic review did not reveal significant differences between the effects of five and fifteen mg of dexamethasone on facial reduction. Antibiotic regimen was also found to prevent infections in orthognathic surgery.