Interdisciplinary consultation trends in oral and maxillofacial surgery: a 5-year retrospective review

Aims: This study seeks to assess the content, frequency range, and practical outcomes of consultations directed to the oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) clinic from several medical departments for both outpatient and inpatient care. The results of this analysis will likely emphasize the importance of managing identified conditions using a multidisciplinary approach and help guide future research in this field. Methods: A comprehensive retrospective analysis was performed on outpatient and inpatient consultations referred to the OMS clinic from internal and surgical medical departments at İstanbul Health Sciences University Sultan 2. Abdülhamid Han Traning and Research Hospital from 2017 to 2023. This study systematically analyzes patient demographics, consultation purposes, responses given, and clinical actions completed. The dataset will provide quantitative results regarding the departments that most often request consultations, the main conditions prompting these requests, and the treatments provided. Results: Statistical data indicate that the majority of consultations directed to the OMS clinic originated from the Otolaryngology (ENT) clinic. This is followed by the emergency department, general surgery, anesthesia and reanimation department. Conclusion: This study reveals that the majority of referrals to the OMS clinic originate from the ENT and emergency departments, primarily for temporomandibular joint disorders, sinus pathologies, and maxillofacial trauma. These results underscore the significant clinical interface between OMS and other medical specialties, highlighting the necessity for structured interdisciplinary collaboration and increased awareness regarding the scope of OMS services in hospital-based care.