Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open (Dec 2018)

Patient-reported Outcomes in Facial Reconstruction: Assessment of FACE-Q Scales and Predictors of Satisfaction

  • Adekunle Elegbede, MD, PhD,
  • Sara Mermulla, MD,
  • Silviu C. Diaconu, MD,
  • Colton McNichols, MD,
  • Yuanyuan Liang, PhD, MS,
  • Fan Liang, MD,
  • Yvonne M. Rasko, MD,
  • Michael P. Grant, MD, PhD,
  • Arthur J. Nam, MD, MS

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000002004
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6, no. 12
p. e2004

Abstract

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Background:. There is a paucity of patient-reported outcome measures for facial trauma reconstruction. To measure satisfaction and health-related quality of life (HRQOL), following repair of traumatic facial fractures, we used the FACE-Q, a set of patient-reported outcome instruments designed for aesthetic facial surgery. As a step toward validating the scales for facial trauma, we evaluated their reliability. Methods:. This is a prospective study of patients following primary repair of traumatic facial fractures at a level 1 trauma center from 2016 to 2018. Six FACE-Q scales with relevance to the facial trauma population were completed by patients at their 1-month postoperative visits. Predictors of satisfaction were examined using multiple linear regression models. Reliability of the scales in this population was evaluated using psychometric methods. Results:. One hundred eighty-five participants fulfilled inclusion criteria. Mean scores for the 6 scales ranged from 59 (SD = 15) for Recovery-Early Life Impact to 94 (SD = 13) for Satisfaction with Medical Team. Predictors of lower satisfaction and/or HRQOL include current tobacco smoking status, mandibulomaxillary fixation, and Le Fort pattern fractures. All scales were found to have good to excellent reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.824–0.969). Conclusions:. Following repair of facial fractures, patient-reported outcomes can be reliably measured using FACE-Q scales. On average, patients report poor health-related quality of life in the early postoperative period. Predictors of low satisfaction and/or poor HRQOL include current smoking habit, mandibulomaxillary fixation, and Le Fort fractures.