Editorial

Toward a More Critical Assessment of Surgical Outcomes

Information Technology's Effect on Measuring Treatment Outcomes

As a recent example (with details not revealed to respect confidentiality), our credentials committee received a letter of concern from a physician who claimed that another service was performing a procedure with inferior outcomes compared to those achieved by the physician's own service. After the critical outcomes of the procedure were identified, a spreadsheet revealed 4 services and 17 physicians performing the procedure with complication rates from 2% to 14%. Patient comorbidities,

Clinical Technology's Effect on Measuring Treatment Outcomes

Emerging new technology can precisely depict outcomes of oral and maxillofacial surgery. While postoperative imaging has become the norm for fracture management, computer-based navigation and intraoperative CT imaging provide real-time assessment of clinical movements of facial structure. Whether the outcome assessed is a reduction of a zygomatico-orbital fracture, reconstruction of a mandible, ramus osteotomy, sleep apnea surgery, or dental implant placement, precise visual and quantitative

The Future Impact of the Assessment of Surgical Outcomes

Even further regulatory consequences of clinical outcomes assessment are stirring in the conversations of decision-makers in health care. Some of these might progress to fruition while others may be rejected due to societal or economic pressure. It is unlikely that any will be rejected due to a lack of technologic capability.

Here are some arenas in which measurement of surgical outcomes might affect the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery in the future.