Evaluation of the effect of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio on facial oedema after orthognathic surgery: a 12-month follow-up study.

Abstract

Orthognathic surgery to correct dentofacial deformities has been performed safely for many years. Postoperative facial oedema occurs to varying degrees in almost all patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the severity of postoperative facial oedema using 3D stereophotogrammetry. Thirty patients (Le Fort I + BSSO) were included in this study. They were divided into two groups according to their NLR: ≥2.00 (n = 13) and <2.00 (n = 17). Patients were followed for 12 months and facial oedema was measured on days 1, 2, 3 and 10, and months 1 and 6, using the 12-month image as the reference. Postoperative facial oedema was significantly greater in the NLR ≥2.00 group in the first 10 days (days 1, 2, 3, 10: P = 0.011, P = 0.010, P = 0.040, P = 0.032), while no significant difference was observed for the long-term measurements (months 1, 6: P = 0.693, P = 0.374). The results of this study suggest that NLR may serve as a potential biomarker to predict the severity of postoperative facial oedema and may assist clinicians in their decision-making process when managing the postoperative inflammatory response.