Measuring Patient-Reported Outcomes After Facial Paralysis Reconstruction Surgery Using the FACE-Q

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Facial Reconstruction
• Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

• Facial paralysis significantly impacts psychosocial well-being.
• Patient perspectives are crucial for evaluating surgical success in facial paralysis.
• Assessing patient satisfaction is vital for understanding reconstructive surgery outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate patient-specific and treatment-specific factors affecting satisfaction after facial paralysis reconstruction.
• To utilize the FACE-Q (Facial Appearance and Quality of Life) questionnaire for outcome assessment.
• To identify predictors of patient satisfaction in facial paralysis surgery.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 72 patients undergoing facial paralysis procedures between 2000 and 2020 were surveyed.
• The FACE-Q questionnaire was administered via email to assess patient satisfaction.
• Data collected included patient demographics, paralysis duration, surgical techniques, and complications.

Main Results:

• Forty-one patients completed the FACE-Q, providing valuable outcome data.
• Male patients reported higher satisfaction with surgical decisions.
• Older patients and those with long-standing paralysis showed lower satisfaction with facial appearance and psychosocial well-being.

Conclusions:

• Decreased patient satisfaction in facial paralysis reconstruction is linked to older age, female sex, insurance status, and prolonged paralysis duration.
• Factors such as surgical technique, complications, or need for secondary procedures did not significantly impact satisfaction.
• These findings underscore the importance of considering patient-specific factors in managing facial paralysis.