Non-Cochrane · prognostic · PM42180086

Incidence and influencing factors of surgical site infection in patients with oral cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Qin Xin-Ya, Yang Jie-Bin, Liu Ya-Mei, et al. · Frontiers in oncology · 2026 · PubMed · doi:10.3389/fonc.2026.1796067

Findings

Population Patients with oral cancer undergoing surgery

34 findings

Not applicable (single-group incidence)Not applicableSurgical site infection (SSI) incidence
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery · N(+)
Incidence (pooled proportion) 0.39 [0.28, 0.50]
GRADE not reported
8 studies · 663 participants
Not applicable (single-group incidence)Not applicableSurgical site infection (SSI) incidence
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery · Buccal
Incidence (pooled proportion) 0.30 [0.23, 0.36]
GRADE not reported
9 studies · 1237 participants
Not applicable (single-group incidence)Not applicableSurgical site infection (SSI) incidence
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery · Clinical stage I-II
Incidence (pooled proportion) 0.21 [0.14, 0.27]
GRADE not reported
8 studies · 1208 participants
Not applicable (single-group incidence)Not applicableSurgical site infection (SSI) incidence
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery · Suture
Incidence (pooled proportion) 0.07 [0.05, 0.09]
GRADE not reported
5 studies · 502 participants
Not applicable (single-group incidence)Not applicableSurgical site infection (SSI) incidence
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery · Palate
Incidence (pooled proportion) 0.09 [0.04, 0.13]
GRADE not reported
7 studies · 140 participants
Not applicable (single-group incidence)Not applicableSurgical site infection (SSI) incidence
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery · Tongue
Incidence (pooled proportion) 0.25 [0.20, 0.31]
GRADE not reported
10 studies · 1383 participants
Not applicable (single-group incidence)Not applicableSurgical site infection (SSI) incidence
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery · Male
Incidence (pooled proportion) 0.29 [0.24, 0.34]
GRADE not reported
19 studies · 4205 participants
Not applicable (single-group incidence)Not applicableSurgical site infection (SSI) incidence
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery · Gingiva
Incidence (pooled proportion) 0.33 [0.21, 0.45]
GRADE not reported
8 studies · 681 participants
Not applicable (single-group incidence)Not applicableSurgical site infection (SSI) incidence
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery · T1+T2
Incidence (pooled proportion) 0.26 [0.19, 0.34]
GRADE not reported
8 studies
Not applicable (single-group incidence)Not applicableSurgical site infection (SSI) incidence
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery · Bilateral neck dissection
Incidence (pooled proportion) 0.48 [0.28, 0.69]
GRADE not reported
7 studies · 183 participants
Not applicable (single-group incidence)Not applicableSurgical site infection (SSI) incidence
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery · No neck dissection
Incidence (pooled proportion) 0.67 [0.58, 0.77]
GRADE not reported
7 studies · 2252 participants
Not applicable (single-group incidence)Not applicableSurgical site infection (SSI) incidence
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery
Incidence (pooled proportion) 0.29 [0.25, 0.33]
GRADE not reported
21 studies · 6071 participants
Not applicable (single-group incidence)Not applicableSurgical site infection (SSI) incidence
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery · Floor of mouth
Incidence (pooled proportion) 0.33 [0.24, 0.41]
GRADE not reported
9 studies · 342 participants
Not applicable (single-group incidence)Not applicableSurgical site infection (SSI) incidence
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery · Clinical stage III-IV
Incidence (pooled proportion) 0.34 [0.26, 0.42]
GRADE not reported
10 studies · 1254 participants
Not applicable (single-group incidence)Not applicableSurgical site infection (SSI) incidence
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery · Female
Incidence (pooled proportion) 0.25 [0.20, 0.30]
GRADE not reported
18 studies · 1391 participants
Not applicable (single-group incidence)Not applicableSurgical site infection (SSI) incidence
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery · Free flap
Incidence (pooled proportion) 0.32 [0.24, 0.40]
GRADE not reported
8 studies · 921 participants
Not applicable (single-group incidence)Not applicableSurgical site infection (SSI) incidence
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery · T3+T4
Incidence (pooled proportion) 0.42 [0.31, 0.54]
GRADE not reported
8 studies · 902 participants
Not applicable (single-group incidence)Not applicableSurgical site infection (SSI) incidence
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery · Unilateral neck dissection
Incidence (pooled proportion) 0.35 [0.10, 0.60]
GRADE not reported
5 studies · 538 participants
Not applicable (single-group incidence)Not applicableSurgical site infection (SSI) incidence
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery · N(-)
Incidence (pooled proportion) 0.37 [0.25, 0.49]
GRADE not reported
7 studies · 688 participants
Not applicable (single-group incidence)Not applicableSurgical site infection (SSI) incidence
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery · Local flap
Incidence (pooled proportion) 0.16 [0.06, 0.26]
GRADE not reported
4 studies · 725 participants
Male sexFemale sexSurgical site infection (SSI)
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery
OR 1.44 [0.68, 3.05]
GRADE not reported
5 studies
Radiotherapy (preoperative, postoperative or unspecified prior)No radiotherapySurgical site infection (SSI)
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery
OR 1.81 [1.16, 2.85]
GRADE not reported
5 studies
MandibulectomyNo mandibulectomySurgical site infection (SSI)
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery
OR 2.82 [2.00, 3.98]
GRADE not reported
5 studies
DiabetesNo diabetesSurgical site infection (SSI)
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery
OR 3.18 [1.87, 5.40]
GRADE not reported
6 studies
Higher BMI (as defined by included studies)Lower BMISurgical site infection (SSI)
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery
OR 2.13 [0.93, 4.87]
GRADE not reported
3 studies
Higher ASA classificationLower ASA classificationSurgical site infection (SSI)
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery
OR 1.40 [1.23, 1.60]
GRADE not reported
4 studies
Higher ACE-27 comorbidity scoreLower ACE-27 comorbidity scoreSurgical site infection (SSI)
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery
OR 1.01 [0.60, 1.71]
GRADE not reported
3 studies
Operative time 6 h or longer (categorical)Operative time under 6 hSurgical site infection (SSI)
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery
OR 4.17 [2.17, 7.99]
GRADE not reported
5 studies
Reconstructive surgeryNo reconstructive surgerySurgical site infection (SSI)
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery
OR 4.10 [2.10, 7.99]
GRADE not reported
5 studies
TracheostomyNo tracheostomySurgical site infection (SSI)
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery
OR 1.63 [0.61, 4.32]
GRADE not reported
3 studies
Blood transfusionNo blood transfusionSurgical site infection (SSI)
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery
OR 3.18 [1.56, 6.48]
GRADE not reported
6 studies
Neck dissectionNo neck dissectionSurgical site infection (SSI)
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery
OR 1.93 [1.09, 3.40]
GRADE not reported
3 studies
Lower skeletal muscle index (SMI)Higher skeletal muscle indexSurgical site infection (SSI)
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery
OR 1.99 [0.79, 4.98]
GRADE not reported
2 studies
Lower serum albumin (hypoalbuminemia)Normal serum albuminSurgical site infection (SSI)
Postoperative · Oral cancer surgery
OR 2.20 [1.07, 4.53]
GRADE not reported
2 studies

Included primary studies 21

Open in Studies
StudyYearAlso included byOutcomes it informs hereTrial data
Belusic-Gobic, 2018
Multivariate analysis of risk factors for postoperative wound infection following oral and oropharyngeal cancer surgery.
PMID:29203089
2018this review onlynot statednot extracted yet
Eder-Czembirek, 2016
Surgical site infection in clean-contaminated wounds after multimodal treatment of advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma.
PMID:27810163
2016this review onlynot statednot extracted yet
Elfayeg, 2024
Frequency and Risk Factors of Surgical Site Infection among Sudanese Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
PMID:38361763
2024this review onlynot statednot extracted yet
Fujii, 2024
Impact of skeletal muscle mass on postoperative complications in oral cancer surgery.
PMID:38538802
2024this review onlynot statednot extracted yet
Hiraoka, 2022
Preoperative nutritional evaluation, surgical site infection, and prognosis in patients with oral cancer.
PMID:35430178
2022this review onlynot statednot extracted yet
Karakida, 2010
Analysis of risk factors for surgical-site infections in 276 oral cancer surgeries with microvascular free-flap reconstructions at a…
PMID:20809241
2010this review onlynot statednot extracted yet
Karthik, 2021
Predictors of surgical site infection and pneumonia following oral cavity tumor surgery.
PMID:34227171
2021this review onlynot statednot extracted yet
Lee, 2015
Postoperative hypoalbuminemia as a risk factor for surgical site infection after oral cancer surgery.
PMID:24605906
2015this review onlynot statednot extracted yet
Lin, 2012
The association between surgical site infection and previous operation in oral cavity cancer patients.
PMID:21779839
2012this review onlynot statednot extracted yet
Lin, 2018
Factors contributing to surgical site infection in patients with oral cancer undergoing microvascular free flap reconstruction.
PMID:29948267
2018this review onlynot statednot extracted yet
Liu, 2007
Risk factors for wound infection after surgery in primary oral cavity cancer patients.
PMID:17202947
2007this review onlynot statednot extracted yet
Liu, 2011
Surgical site infection after preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma.
PMID:21674671
2011this review onlynot statednot extracted yet
Ma, 2012
Surgical site infection in elderly oral cancer patients: is the evaluation of comorbid conditions helpful in the identification of…
PMID:22265170
2012this review onlynot statednot extracted yet
Makiguchi, 2019 (ref 15)
Risk Factors for Surgical Site Infection in Patients Undergoing Free and Pedicled Myocutaneous Flap Reconstruction After Oral Cancer…
PMID:30707981
2019this review onlynot statednot extracted yet
Makiguchi, 2019 (ref 16)
Impact of skeletal muscle mass volume on surgical site infection in free flap reconstruction for oral cancer.
PMID:31328303
2019this review onlynot statednot extracted yet
Nakamura, 2020
Impact of sarcopenia on postoperative surgical site infections in patients undergoing flap reconstruction for oral cancer.
PMID:31601472
2020this review onlynot statednot extracted yet
Sato, 2011
Oral health care reduces the risk of postoperative surgical site infection in inpatients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.
PMID:20232086
2011this review onlynot statednot extracted yet
Shen, 2023
Risk factors for the occurrence of infection in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma after restorative reconstruction and its impact…
PMID:37701120
2023this review onlynot statednot extracted yet
Shi, 2020
Risk factors for surgical site infection after major oral oncological surgery: the experience of a tertiary referral hospital in China.
PMID:32841576
2020this review onlynot statednot extracted yet
Wang, 2016
[Study of the risk factors of postoperative surgical site infection in geriatric patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma].
PMID:27337928
2016this review onlynot statednot extracted yet
Yao, 2017
Surgical site infections following oral cavity cancer resection and reconstruction is a risk factor for plate exposure.
PMID:28390434
2017this review onlynot statednot extracted yet

Review question

ElementPlanned (methods)Found (results)
PopulationPatients diagnosed with oral cancer who underwent surgical treatmentPatients with oral cancer undergoing surgery (n=6071)
InterventionPotential risk factors for SSI (exposures)Radiotherapy, mandibulectomy, diabetes, BMI, ASA classification, ACE-27, operative time, reconstructive surgery, tracheostomy, transfusion, neck dissection, lower SMI, albumin, male sex
ComparisonNot specifiedNot specified
OutcomesSurgical site infection (incidence; odds ratios for influencing factors)SSI (1514 events); pooled incidence 29% (95% CI 25%-33%)
Study designsObservational studies (cohort or case-control), English full text21 studies (17 retrospective cohort, 3 case-control, 1 prospective cohort)
TimingNot specifiedTreatment 1977 to 2023; studies published 2007 to 2024