Public and patients' perceptions of facial reanimation using lengthening temporalis myoplasty

To answer the clinical research questions: "Among facial paralysis patients (FPPs), did lengthening temporalis myoplasty (LTM) improve public's perceptions, patients' perceptions, as well as objective oral measurements of post-operative outcomes?"

To answer the research questions, we designed and implemented a hybrid cross-sectional and retrospective cohort study enrolling a cohort of laypersons and FPPs treated at a tertiary care center from 2011 to 2020. The primary predictor variables were LTM in FPPs (before/after) and medical background on medical care (FPPs/laypersons). The main outcome variable was post-operative outcomes (from a public's perspective, FPPs' perspective, and with objective measurements). Descriptive and univariate statistics were computed as appropriate, and P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

The sample consisted of 203 lay volunteers and 15 FPPs. After LTM, public perception voted the significant improvements in disfigured, important to repair, bothersome, severity (DIBS) score, and facial attractiveness. Patients' perspective was also significantly improved for global severity, oral function, and facial movement. Objective measurements of deviation at the oral commissure and the smile angle also significantly improved after LTM.

Despite no control groups (i.e., other techniques to be compared) in this study, our study results suggest that LTM can be used to improve public's perception, patient's perception, and objective oral measurement of post-operative outcomes in FPPs. Because different questionnaires were used, it is unknown whether public and patient's perceptions are compatible.