Longitudinal trends in discharge patterns of orthognathic surgeries: is there a regionalization of procedures in teaching hospitals?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine if there is regionalization of orthognathic surgeries to teaching hospitals during the study period.

STUDY DESIGN: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample for years 2000-2008 was used. Every hospitalization that had an orthognathic surgery was selected. Patient and hospital level variables were examined. The odds of an orthognathic surgery procedure being performed in a teaching hospital over the study period was computed with the use of a multivariable logistic regression model.

RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 108,264 hospitalizations underwent orthognathic surgeries in the United States. The average age ranged from 27 years during the years 2006-2008 to 28.2 years during the years 2000-2002. After adjusting for multiple patient and hospital level factors, the year of procedure was not a significant predictor of increasing odds of an orthognathic surgery being performed in a teaching hospital.

CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence of concentration of orthognathic surgical procedures in teaching hospitals.