Patient reported outcome measures in microtia surgery.

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Otolaryngology
• Patient Reported Outcomes

Background:

• Autologous ear reconstruction for microtia is a complex, multi-stage procedure.
• Patient perception of surgical outcomes and overall experience is crucial for success.
• Patient-reported measures are vital for refining techniques and enhancing the patient journey.

Purpose of the Study:

• To objectively measure outcomes of microtia reconstructive surgery using reproducible patient-reported outcome tools.
• To assess patient satisfaction with autologous ear reconstruction for microtia.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study conducted at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (RHSC).
• Two questionnaires were administered to patients who underwent autologous ear reconstructive procedures for congenital microtia.
• Questionnaires assessed patient perspectives on ear appearance, aesthetic units, donor site, psychosocial considerations, and overall satisfaction.

Main Results:

• High patient satisfaction reported, with 83% at GOSH and 85% at RHSC satisfied with their reconstructed ear.
• Patients reported high satisfaction with the ear lobe and overall size.
• Lower satisfaction scores were noted for the antitragus and ear projection.

Conclusions:

• The utilized patient-reported outcome measures provide an objective assessment of patient experience and surgical outcomes.
• These measures can be used for targeted quality improvement in microtia reconstruction.
• The study highlights the potential for national benchmarking of care quality in ear reconstruction.