Postextraction surgical site infections among patients with developmental disabilities

Investigators have assessed the risk of surgical site infections post-third molar extraction in patients with developmental disabilities.

Some patients with developmental disabilities may be unable to follow proper oral hygiene practices, according to a study published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The investigators analyzed the risk of surgical site infections among 236 patients with developmental disabilities and 1,660 patients without developmental disabilities who underwent extraction of all four third molars between Aug. 1, 2021, and July 31, 2023.

The investigators found that there were no statistically significant differences in the rate of postextraction surgical site infections between the patients with and without developmental disabilities as well as in the time to follow-up between those who did or did not develop surgical site infections and the patients with and without developmental disabilities who developed surgical site infections.

The findings suggested that patients with developmental disabilities did not experience postextraction surgical site infections at a higher rate than those without developmental disabilities. A commentary published in PracticeUpdate hypothesized that diligent parental or guardian supervision allowed for high rates of adherence to oral hygiene guidelines and dietary modifications among the patients with developmental disabilities.

Read more: Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

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