A national review of mandibular orthognathic surgery activity in the National Health Service in England over a nine year period: part 2--patient factors.

We aimed to investigate patients who had mandibular orthognathic surgery in England for the period 1 April 1997-30 March 2006. Data on hospital inpatient activity were extracted from the NHS Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) database for all mandibular orthognathic surgical procedures between these dates. Details of patients were investigated in relation to clinical details, socioeconomic status, other diagnoses, and clinical outcomes. Mandibular orthognathic operations were done for 8941 patients in England over the 9-year period, and the ratio of women: men was 1.7:1. The mean (SD) age at operation was 24 (9) years with no difference between sexes. There was a socioeconomic gradient in patients requesting treatment, most of whom lived in relatively affluent areas. The most common other diagnosis was "additional dentofacial anomalies" (8% of episodes). Mental or behavioural diagnoses were recorded in 41 patients (<1%). One patient died in hospital. Our results confirmed the differences in sex in patients receiving orthognathic care and highlighted socioeconomic inequalities in the treated patients. A number of coexisting diagnoses were also identified.