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.