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

Background The incidence and influencing factors of surgical site infection(SSI) in oral cancer were investigated through meta-analysis. Methods The search was conducted from inception until April 2024 in databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library using a combination of subject terms and keywords. Observational studies (cohort and case-control) investigating the incidence and influencing factors of SSI in patients with oral cancer were included for data collection. Quality assessment was performed, followed by extraction and analysis of valid data using Stata 17.0 software. Results The pooled incidence of SSI was 29% (95% CI: 25%–33%) with substantial heterogeneity. Factors associated with SSI included radiotherapy, mandibulectomy, diabetes, ASA classification, operative time, reconstructive surgery, transfusion, neck dissection, and albumin. Conclusion These factors were associated with SSI in oral cancer patients and may help identify high-risk individuals. Systematic Review Registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/ , identifier CRD42024539962.