Purpose:The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of postoperative complications on long-term quality of life in patients after abdominal operations for Crohn’s disease.Materials and Methods:From 1996 to 2002, 305 Crohn’s patients underwent abdominal surgery, and 66 patients developed postoperative complications. Quality of life was studied using a standardized questionnaire and four quality of life instruments. Sixty-six Crohn’s patients with uneventful postoperative course matched for age, and follow-up time served as controls.Results:Forty-eight patients (81%) in the complication group (32 major and 16 minor) and 43 patients (75%) in the control group answered the questionnaire. Postoperative follow-up time was 42 (10–94) and 41 months (13–94; median (range)). Quality of life was comparable between groups, except on the subscale “physical functioning” of the Short-form 36 on which patients with minor and major complications showed impaired quality of life compared to controls (67 ± 6, 69 ± 4, and 84 ± 2%; mean ± standard error of the mean; both p < 0.05 vs controls). The incidence of Crohn’s disease-related symptoms at follow-up was unaffected by complications (minor 63%, major 56% vs controls 70%; both not significant).Conclusion:Postoperative complications after abdominal operations for Crohn’s disease do not impair long-term quality of life in general but may affect specific dimensions of quality of life like patients’ physical function.