Complications associated with surgical management of oral cancer patients: A comprehensive review

Management of the oral cancer, involves surgical intervention and the associated complications are quite prevalent after oral cancer surgery. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of all the possible complications associated with surgical management of oral cancer to apprise about adequate management of such complications if they manifest. An internet based literature review was performed in PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Central Register electronic databases using keywords “oral cancer,” “oral surgical procedures,” “post operative complications,” “intra operative complications,” which resulted in 19 articles. After screening only relevant English language articles from 2000–2022 were considered. A working classification, described in our study, provides an easier understanding of the possible complications associated with surgical management of the oral cancer. It has been based depending upon their time of occurrence. A learned surgeon thus can provide adequate surgical care and minimize the occurrence of such complications that may occur even with adequate precautions. If such complications do occur, there is always a management protocol.